Just. Wow.
Oh, and for reference, if you're not sure how excellent bacon is...watch this.
:D
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Album Cover Game
This is cool.
In order to make your own, you really need some sort of photoshop-ish tool, but looking at the existing ones and going through the steps is nearly as good.
My first band was Harwich Redoubt, and the album was called "Like to Call Normal." Sadly, I don't recall the photo, but it hardly matters with a cool band name like that, now does it?
In order to make your own, you really need some sort of photoshop-ish tool, but looking at the existing ones and going through the steps is nearly as good.
My first band was Harwich Redoubt, and the album was called "Like to Call Normal." Sadly, I don't recall the photo, but it hardly matters with a cool band name like that, now does it?
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Bullet Points
1. We had a rainy rehearsal tonight, but we were mostly inside the stadium^, so it wasn't so bad. Despite everything on the webpage and in the papers we had to sign stating that cell phones/cameras are not allowed at rehearsals, and by NO MEANS inside the stadium, many many people were not-so-surreptitiously snapping away inside. I am a good girl with a major guilt complex, so I did not take mine in. So this is all you get.
2. My official job is now "Cable Feeder". It's dirty, dirty work:
3. Some of that is grass stains, from the sinfully lush grass on the playing field. They had "The Tray" in tonight, so we got to see and walk around on (covered mostly with tarps, however) Superbowl Grass. I never thought I would covet grass, but damn. This guy does it. This is his 42nd Superbowl. He's a tough little dude. You don't mess with his grass, but I'm still trying to orchestrate a "fall" so I can roll around on it. It's that nice.4. Cap told another genius story tonight, about growing up in rural Tennessee. When he was six years old, he was playing on the family farm when he saw a sharecropper plowing a field with his mule. He approached the man and told him that he wanted to learn how to plow with the mule. The sharecropper obliged and let him grab the plow handles and assisted him as he drove a few rows. When they were done, Cap noted that his rows were crooked and wobbly, whereas the sharecroppers rows were "as straight as the yard lines on this football field". Cap asked the sharecropper why this was. The reply?
"You have to pick a point and *aim* for it. Otherwise, you're just following the Ass."
Sage Words.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Today Is Friday
Another week down.
Rehearsal didn't really happen so much last night. It wasn't cancelled or anything, and I showed up along with a number of other folks. It's just that 160 people did NOT show up. See, it was sprinkling yesterday off and on, and rain was forecast for the evening as well. And despite the fact that the call board was never updated with any cancellation notices, those 160 people decided that they'd just stay home.
Those of us who *did* show up got a nice meal out of it, and a fairly long Q & A with "Cap", whose given name eludes me, but whose leadership skills and speaking prowess will never. Honestly I can't really tell you what his job is, except to sort of guide us all through this process and make it work. He's just really entertaining to listen to, and makes us feel like a valuable part of the show, instead of treating us like the untrained peons we really are. Of course the former is true as well, and I don't mean to discount that at all--they *could not* do this without the 400+ volunteers (as evidenced by the fact that with 160 short last night, we got to sit in a tent chatting with Cap instead of actually rehearsing). It's just really nice to be treated as a member of the team, and with respect, instead of just getting orders barked at us.
I talked to him about this after he wrapped up his answers and sent everyone on their way. I'm sure I came across as a total cheeseball suckup, but I told him that I was really impressed with his speaking and his leadership. We chatted for a bit about the fact that in order for it to work, the volunteers have to really *own* the process. They have to feel a part of the whole. Without that feeling of partnership, it will never come together. Cap lamented the fact that, as a society, we don't do things "together" anymore. Everyone runs around with their cell phones to their ears, in their own little worlds. No one wants to be spoken to by a stranger, let alone help them with something.
He talked about the days when there were barn raisings and community fire departments--times when people got together to help others out because it was the right thing to do--not because it was a paid job. This, in his mind, was harkening back to those activities. A bunch of strangers coming together to do something great. Not because we'll make a bunch of money, but because we can. Sure, it will be a lot of work for "Free". Most people probably signed up because they wanted to be on TV, or tell their buddies they were on the Superbowl.
Regardless of their reasons for signing up, for everyone involved it will be a huge learning experience and a chance to be part of something bigger than most of us will ever know. The production team, and Cap most notably, is ensuring our success by really including us, and not treating us as outsiders. I hope that a lot of people take that feeling away with them and remember to apply it in their everyday lives.
Rehearsal didn't really happen so much last night. It wasn't cancelled or anything, and I showed up along with a number of other folks. It's just that 160 people did NOT show up. See, it was sprinkling yesterday off and on, and rain was forecast for the evening as well. And despite the fact that the call board was never updated with any cancellation notices, those 160 people decided that they'd just stay home.
Those of us who *did* show up got a nice meal out of it, and a fairly long Q & A with "Cap", whose given name eludes me, but whose leadership skills and speaking prowess will never. Honestly I can't really tell you what his job is, except to sort of guide us all through this process and make it work. He's just really entertaining to listen to, and makes us feel like a valuable part of the show, instead of treating us like the untrained peons we really are. Of course the former is true as well, and I don't mean to discount that at all--they *could not* do this without the 400+ volunteers (as evidenced by the fact that with 160 short last night, we got to sit in a tent chatting with Cap instead of actually rehearsing). It's just really nice to be treated as a member of the team, and with respect, instead of just getting orders barked at us.
I talked to him about this after he wrapped up his answers and sent everyone on their way. I'm sure I came across as a total cheeseball suckup, but I told him that I was really impressed with his speaking and his leadership. We chatted for a bit about the fact that in order for it to work, the volunteers have to really *own* the process. They have to feel a part of the whole. Without that feeling of partnership, it will never come together. Cap lamented the fact that, as a society, we don't do things "together" anymore. Everyone runs around with their cell phones to their ears, in their own little worlds. No one wants to be spoken to by a stranger, let alone help them with something.
He talked about the days when there were barn raisings and community fire departments--times when people got together to help others out because it was the right thing to do--not because it was a paid job. This, in his mind, was harkening back to those activities. A bunch of strangers coming together to do something great. Not because we'll make a bunch of money, but because we can. Sure, it will be a lot of work for "Free". Most people probably signed up because they wanted to be on TV, or tell their buddies they were on the Superbowl.
Regardless of their reasons for signing up, for everyone involved it will be a huge learning experience and a chance to be part of something bigger than most of us will ever know. The production team, and Cap most notably, is ensuring our success by really including us, and not treating us as outsiders. I hope that a lot of people take that feeling away with them and remember to apply it in their everyday lives.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
5 Words...
I never thought I'd hear myself say:
I'm going to the Superbowl!
It's true. As some of you know, Superbowl (mumblemumble because I have no idea what number it is...) is being held in Glendale, Arizona this year. Glendale is a whopping 20 minute drive from our house.
Orginally I wanted nothing to do with the debacle. I wanted to leave town for the week and rent our our house for $20,000 (no, that's not our house...but an example of some of the many many ads posted).
Then, a message was posted to one of my Meetup groups. Superbowl Productions needed people to help with the Pregame and Halftime shows. OH EM GEE! I may not know what number Superbowl it is, or even who's playing, but I do know that the Superbowl Halftime show is one of the biggest productions....EVER. A chance to be a part of that? Sign me up!
Sign up I did, and went to our first rehearsal last night. I had to sign a confidentiality waiver, so I can't say much about it, but I will say that it's amazing. The amount of preparation and coordination involved is staggering. I am so excited to be a part of this, I can't even describe it, but R can tell you stories of my bouncing around the house and jabbering constantly and incoherently when I got home last night. It is going to be one of the more memorable experiences of my life, I'm fairly certain.
So if you're going to be watching the game, don't miss the Halftime Show! I'll be on the field...somewhere. :)
I'm going to the Superbowl!
It's true. As some of you know, Superbowl (mumblemumble because I have no idea what number it is...) is being held in Glendale, Arizona this year. Glendale is a whopping 20 minute drive from our house.
Orginally I wanted nothing to do with the debacle. I wanted to leave town for the week and rent our our house for $20,000 (no, that's not our house...but an example of some of the many many ads posted).
Then, a message was posted to one of my Meetup groups. Superbowl Productions needed people to help with the Pregame and Halftime shows. OH EM GEE! I may not know what number Superbowl it is, or even who's playing, but I do know that the Superbowl Halftime show is one of the biggest productions....EVER. A chance to be a part of that? Sign me up!
Sign up I did, and went to our first rehearsal last night. I had to sign a confidentiality waiver, so I can't say much about it, but I will say that it's amazing. The amount of preparation and coordination involved is staggering. I am so excited to be a part of this, I can't even describe it, but R can tell you stories of my bouncing around the house and jabbering constantly and incoherently when I got home last night. It is going to be one of the more memorable experiences of my life, I'm fairly certain.
So if you're going to be watching the game, don't miss the Halftime Show! I'll be on the field...somewhere. :)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
mmmmmm
Last night I made these for dinner. Yum. Honestly, I think the "gravy" would make anything edible in and of itself. Sososo tasty. And easy? The hardest part was actually assembling the raviolis. I really need to buy myself a pastry brush. Because the whole dipping ones finger in water and wetting the wontons? Tedious! But oh so worth it. I've been told that we *will* be having these again--preferably as part of our weekly routine. :P
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Taco Tooooosday!
Except not really though. For one thing, it's not Tuesday... We had grilled cheese sammiches and tomato soup, because it's just so dang cold here. And yeah yeah, my friends and family in truly cold places will scoff at that remark, but let me just say that when you're accustomed to 110 degree +, 50 degrees seems downright frigid.
I had my appointment with the good folks at Charles Schwab on Monday, and the guy agreed with me that my once fantastically performing IRA mutual fund is now a dog. A mangy, evil, kitten-eating dog. We discussed moving those funds into something else, and my interest is in a "socially repsonsible" fund--something that doesn't put a boatload of interest in oil, or mining, or the like. We found one that looks good, so I'm to see about selling/buying on my own via the online trading thing. I'm also going to *finally* reinvest some of the cash in my MM account into a smaller cap fund in the hopes of getting a little better return.
Don't I sound like I know what I'm talking about? Haha fooled you! I am anxious to learn more, indeed, and the Kiplinger magazine is pretty cool, as far as a magazine written in a foreign language about a subject that makes my head hurt can be. I think I'm picking up a few things here and there, but I doubt I'll ever be "investment savvy". Perhaps. I certainly have the time on my hands of late to do something about it. :)
Um so yeah. Hump Day! Not much else to say, unless you want to hear about how clean my bathroom is, or how much my toes hurt from trying to learn to jump rope again. Yeah, I was jumping rope barefoot, what of it?
Oh, and did I mention that it's COLD here? Supposed to get down to the 30s overnight! Oh no! I'd better run and dig up my flannel pj's!
I had my appointment with the good folks at Charles Schwab on Monday, and the guy agreed with me that my once fantastically performing IRA mutual fund is now a dog. A mangy, evil, kitten-eating dog. We discussed moving those funds into something else, and my interest is in a "socially repsonsible" fund--something that doesn't put a boatload of interest in oil, or mining, or the like. We found one that looks good, so I'm to see about selling/buying on my own via the online trading thing. I'm also going to *finally* reinvest some of the cash in my MM account into a smaller cap fund in the hopes of getting a little better return.
Don't I sound like I know what I'm talking about? Haha fooled you! I am anxious to learn more, indeed, and the Kiplinger magazine is pretty cool, as far as a magazine written in a foreign language about a subject that makes my head hurt can be. I think I'm picking up a few things here and there, but I doubt I'll ever be "investment savvy". Perhaps. I certainly have the time on my hands of late to do something about it. :)
Um so yeah. Hump Day! Not much else to say, unless you want to hear about how clean my bathroom is, or how much my toes hurt from trying to learn to jump rope again. Yeah, I was jumping rope barefoot, what of it?
Oh, and did I mention that it's COLD here? Supposed to get down to the 30s overnight! Oh no! I'd better run and dig up my flannel pj's!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Bulbous Bouffant!
A clever person with a lot of time on his or her hands has put Bulbous Bouffant by the Vestibules to "video". Please ignore the distasteful image that this person has chosen for their avatar, and instead just click play and enjoy!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Shirking
I like that word, "shirking". It sounds sort of playful and painful at the same time. Of course it means neither of those things, but that's okay because in it's actual definition it works as a title here.
I didn't tell you about my day Thursday. Or Friday. I was shirking my duties to you, denying you the minutae that makes up my daily drill. To make up for it, here is a quick recap.
I made:
A *really* tasty taco salad using Mezzetta Vinaigretta, which I don't have a link for because--shockingly and unbelievably--I cannot find any mention of online, save for a mention on Hot Coupon World. It's not even on the main Mezzetta webpage. Very very odd. Anyway, I found it in the salad dressing aisle, entirely by accident. There are a couple different flavours, and I went with Chipotle something-or-other. If you're familiar with Mezzetta, you'll recognize the jar full of all manner of veggies, steeped in a sauce of yummy spices. This stuff, though, is meant to be tossed up with salad greens and served as is. I dumped some in a skillet and sauteed the chicken in it, then mixed it all with shredded lettuce and served it in a homemade tortilla bowl. (GO ME!) Very good stuff.
An appointment to see someone at the local Charles Schwab office. My IRA has been languishing, so I'm going to try to take charge again. But first I need a refresher course. Oh, and thanks, Dad, for the Kiplinger subscription--I got two issues yesterday! Overload!
An online order for a paper shredder. We have a lot of old documents that it's time to get rid of, and me tearing them into tiny pieces is *not* going to happen, no matter how much free time I currently have. It should be here Monday. Let the destruction ensue!
Every muscle in the top third of my body ache. I went pretty nuts on the Bowflex yesterday, and then spent some quality time in the yard with the lopper. I will soon be as trim as the trees and bushes in the back yard.
I did some other stuff too, but I've slept since then, so that's all that springs to mind. Today is Saturday, so it's laundry and dishes day. And I'm going to go for a bike ride later this afternoon. And...yeah.
<3
I didn't tell you about my day Thursday. Or Friday. I was shirking my duties to you, denying you the minutae that makes up my daily drill. To make up for it, here is a quick recap.
I made:
A *really* tasty taco salad using Mezzetta Vinaigretta, which I don't have a link for because--shockingly and unbelievably--I cannot find any mention of online, save for a mention on Hot Coupon World. It's not even on the main Mezzetta webpage. Very very odd. Anyway, I found it in the salad dressing aisle, entirely by accident. There are a couple different flavours, and I went with Chipotle something-or-other. If you're familiar with Mezzetta, you'll recognize the jar full of all manner of veggies, steeped in a sauce of yummy spices. This stuff, though, is meant to be tossed up with salad greens and served as is. I dumped some in a skillet and sauteed the chicken in it, then mixed it all with shredded lettuce and served it in a homemade tortilla bowl. (GO ME!) Very good stuff.
An appointment to see someone at the local Charles Schwab office. My IRA has been languishing, so I'm going to try to take charge again. But first I need a refresher course. Oh, and thanks, Dad, for the Kiplinger subscription--I got two issues yesterday! Overload!
An online order for a paper shredder. We have a lot of old documents that it's time to get rid of, and me tearing them into tiny pieces is *not* going to happen, no matter how much free time I currently have. It should be here Monday. Let the destruction ensue!
Every muscle in the top third of my body ache. I went pretty nuts on the Bowflex yesterday, and then spent some quality time in the yard with the lopper. I will soon be as trim as the trees and bushes in the back yard.
I did some other stuff too, but I've slept since then, so that's all that springs to mind. Today is Saturday, so it's laundry and dishes day. And I'm going to go for a bike ride later this afternoon. And...yeah.
<3
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Wherein I try to clear my head before bedtime.
So last night I went to bed with my head full of thoughts and ideas. Not about anything specific, just...stuff. So much so that I didn't fall asleep for quite a long while. I used to write in an actual pen-and-paper journal before bed, and although I wrote about a lot of nothing, it seemed to allow me to rid my brain of all the fluff and get to sleep more quickly and to sleep more soundly once I got there.
That's the long way of saying that I'm going to attempt to do a little of that here and see if it helps. Expect a LOT of randomness, since the day is done and my head is a little like a pail of trimmings from the day's catch, if you will.
Today I:
Emptied the dishwasher but didn't reload it. I'll pay for that tomorrow. Unless it eats at me so much over the next few minutes that I succumb to the guilt and go do it before bed.
Walked the dogs and worked out on the Bowflex a bit. Turned wonky and now I have a SharPei (much love to my best friend in the entire world Even England) in my right knee. Shame, cos there was another death march up Piestewa Peak this weekend that I was going to attempt. Now, not so much.
Played on the computer more than I should have.
Went and saw Sweeny Todd which, in retrospect, makes me wonder "What was I thinking?" I had heard about the gore, but somehow convinced myself that it really wouldn't be *that* bad. But OH! It was. Very very bad. But the worst part? All the shaving! Who knew? A movie with a subtitle "The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"? Oh yeah, and the tiny fact that I actually played Mrs. Lovett in a high school production of it (not the musical). Despite all that, I somehow blocked out the fact that it is a movie about SHAVING. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I have an unfounded, yet completely real and ginormous phobia of watching people shave. I can't watch Gilette commercials, for pete's sake. I have no trouble shaving myself (although I gave it up for about 12 years, which is another post completely), and I have, in fact, shaved other people when I worked with adults with developmental disabilities. But watching someone else shave makes my skin positively crawl. It makes my teeth hurt. It makes my butt cringe. It...gives me the heebie jeebies. All that aside, it was a great movie. Tim Burton+Johnny Depp= WIN!
Tomorrow I will:
Write more and tell you what I did.
Goodnight!
That's the long way of saying that I'm going to attempt to do a little of that here and see if it helps. Expect a LOT of randomness, since the day is done and my head is a little like a pail of trimmings from the day's catch, if you will.
Today I:
Emptied the dishwasher but didn't reload it. I'll pay for that tomorrow. Unless it eats at me so much over the next few minutes that I succumb to the guilt and go do it before bed.
Walked the dogs and worked out on the Bowflex a bit. Turned wonky and now I have a SharPei (much love to my best friend in the entire world Even England) in my right knee. Shame, cos there was another death march up Piestewa Peak this weekend that I was going to attempt. Now, not so much.
Played on the computer more than I should have.
Went and saw Sweeny Todd which, in retrospect, makes me wonder "What was I thinking?" I had heard about the gore, but somehow convinced myself that it really wouldn't be *that* bad. But OH! It was. Very very bad. But the worst part? All the shaving! Who knew? A movie with a subtitle "The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"? Oh yeah, and the tiny fact that I actually played Mrs. Lovett in a high school production of it (not the musical). Despite all that, I somehow blocked out the fact that it is a movie about SHAVING. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I have an unfounded, yet completely real and ginormous phobia of watching people shave. I can't watch Gilette commercials, for pete's sake. I have no trouble shaving myself (although I gave it up for about 12 years, which is another post completely), and I have, in fact, shaved other people when I worked with adults with developmental disabilities. But watching someone else shave makes my skin positively crawl. It makes my teeth hurt. It makes my butt cringe. It...gives me the heebie jeebies. All that aside, it was a great movie. Tim Burton+Johnny Depp= WIN!
Tomorrow I will:
Write more and tell you what I did.
Goodnight!
Monday, January 07, 2008
On the 7th Day....
Yes, yes, I'm well aware that we're a full week into the new year. And that not only haven't I posted any recaps or resolutions, but that I've only posted one measley photo and a few lines of text--AT ALL. Yes, yes, shame on me.
One of my tentative resolutions was to write something--anything--on this blog every day. That quickly changed to Monday-Friday, and then realism swooped in and I thought maybe 3 times/week would be manageable. And then a week went by with nary a post and I thought maybe "more" would be the proper terminology for it. I'll blog "more" this year.
So consider this. Two posts in 7 days. That's not so far off the 3/week mark. I need some material, though. I'll take requests. What do you want to hear about?
Oh, the mile high hike? You want to hear about that? Here it is in a nutshell: "Ohmygod we're still climbing are you serious I'm going to die on this mountain."
Squaw, or Piestewa, Peak is square in the middle of town, and although everything I've read about it claims that it's a "moderate" hike, and an "easy" trail, it's a real beast. It's about 1,200-1,300 elevation gain in 1.2 miles. I'm not a mathematician, so I don't know what kind of grade that translates to, but consider climbing stairs for 1.2 miles and you're pretty much there.
I made it all the way to the top my first time up, which is no mean feat, but I was humbled by a couple people that passed me at least once doing multiple ascents.
I'll get the rest of the photos up on Flikr here pretty quick. It was kind of an overcast day, so they're not great shots, but I'm going again soon, so maybe I'll get some better light next go 'round.
Happy New Year!
One of my tentative resolutions was to write something--anything--on this blog every day. That quickly changed to Monday-Friday, and then realism swooped in and I thought maybe 3 times/week would be manageable. And then a week went by with nary a post and I thought maybe "more" would be the proper terminology for it. I'll blog "more" this year.
So consider this. Two posts in 7 days. That's not so far off the 3/week mark. I need some material, though. I'll take requests. What do you want to hear about?
Oh, the mile high hike? You want to hear about that? Here it is in a nutshell: "Ohmygod we're still climbing are you serious I'm going to die on this mountain."
Squaw, or Piestewa, Peak is square in the middle of town, and although everything I've read about it claims that it's a "moderate" hike, and an "easy" trail, it's a real beast. It's about 1,200-1,300 elevation gain in 1.2 miles. I'm not a mathematician, so I don't know what kind of grade that translates to, but consider climbing stairs for 1.2 miles and you're pretty much there.
I made it all the way to the top my first time up, which is no mean feat, but I was humbled by a couple people that passed me at least once doing multiple ascents.
I'll get the rest of the photos up on Flikr here pretty quick. It was kind of an overcast day, so they're not great shots, but I'm going again soon, so maybe I'll get some better light next go 'round.Happy New Year!
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Squaw Peak
up! No joke. More photos to come!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)