Monday, January 07, 2013
Three Years?
In the absurd unlikelihood that anyone still stops by here, I thought I'd mention that I have new digs over at Glimmer of Veracity. Come see me. I miss you.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Back in the Saddle Again.
Or, back to the saddle again?
I've slept since then (though hardly well or a lot), so bear with me as I attempt to recount The Round Up.
Rob and his son having fully prepared our horses' tack, all we had left to do was mount up and make sure they were watered well before we headed off to meet up with the other folks. One thing was instantly clear about our mounts--they were very close friends and did not ken to being separated. When one trotted, the other trotted, when one walked, the others walked. When one galloped...we all screamed our heads of and nearly died (totally just exaggerating, mom!)...but that's a story for a later time.
We met up with the other riders--the real horsemen and women who brought their own horses and trailers and gear. It would have been a perfect opportunity for anyone of them to get snippy or holier than thou, or even just weirdly protective, but everyone was perfectly lovely and treated us and our rental horses as equals. It was pretty cool.
We got the lowdown on where we'd be headed, approximately where we would find the cattle (they had actually already been rounded up for the most part and brought in to a basin a few miles from the ranch--to save us all a lot of time and hassle), and where we were going to be bringing them. And then we rode. And rode. And then we rode some more. It was beautiful and sunny and cool, and just about as close to heaven as I could imagine. If there had been chocolate and a live band, it could have passed.
When we finally got to the basin where the cattle were hangin out, there were a few yet that had to be wrangled. We let the more experienced riders do this, instead opting to sit on our horses and listen to the incessant bleating of the calves and the lowing of the cows as they wondered what the HELL was going on. Damn, cattle are a noisy lot! Oddly, though, the acoustics were so amazing in the basin that even over the cacophony of the cattle, we could hear every word of every conversation being held--we could even hear the folks on the far edge of the basin chatting up the cows they were trying to bring in closer. Perhaps it was a shepherd who originally "invented" the outdoor amphitheatre?
Anyway, after we got all the strays collected, it was time to start moving them all back towards the ranch. We again had positions assigned along the creek bed to ensure that no one bolted from the pack and tried to backtrack into the sunset. I did not fully understand Princess' attachment to the other horses until I was given a spot in a tucked-back area, out of sight from nearly everyone else. She whinnied and pawed at the ground and shook her head and was generally a right bitch. I had to continuously walk her in circles just to keep her busy.
And then, all of the sudden...cattle! Many and lots of cattle, ambling by, wailing and moaning as though they were on some sort of cow-death-march (perhaps after all they were about to go through at the ranch, they were only wishing for death as a less torturous alternative). Just when I thought that this was all for show and that I would never have to actually *do* anything, there they were! A momma and her yearling broke ranks about 20 yards, one 2ft ledge, and 1 treeline from me. The fellow manning that spot had just left it to hustle in another errant pair, leaving a big ole hole that this couple wasted no time filling. I gave Princess a nudge and she LEAPED up the ledge (scaring the pee outta me) and in front of the cow and her calf. They looked stunned for half a second and then grudgingly got back in line, bellowing all the while.
Woohoo! I was a cowpoke for reals! I was so proud of myself, and of course NO one saw it, cos they were too busy doing the same thing. But it was cool, trust me!
After we got the cattle out of the creek bed, it was just an easy walk back to the ranch with them hugging the fenceline and us sort of walking along beside them telling them to hurry the hell up. Damned hoof-draggers.
After we got them little doggies (ha!) safely to the work pens, we turned our horses towards camp. And woe is me for forgetting the nature of the trail horse. Slow to go out, but DAMN when it's time to go home they always tend to move a little faster. A lot faster in our case, because S and I were a little pony-crazed and are speed demons to boot. So we nudged them from a trot to a canter, and then when they realised they were so close to "the Barn", they took off like bats outta Hades-full gallop. I'm fairly certain I was screaming like a banshee (with glee more than fear...but a little fear), and I know for a fact that I was gripping the pommel like it was the last remaining hope in a world of doom (it pretty much was, because at that point I'd lost at least one of my stirrups and I was kind of flailing).
It was terrifying, but OH it was fun! But it just meant that we were back in camp that much sooner and it was time to give the horses a rest and go eat lunch. Yep. All this was before lunch on the first day!!
Of course I don't have photos of any of this, because I didn't have saddlebags, and I wasn't about to risk losing my camera. Besides, when all the good stuff was goin' down, I was far too busy actually doin my job to take snapshots. ;)
There are a few other good stories to tell, and I'll tell them. But most of the rest of the weekend was trailrides, eating, sleeping, reading, eating, and more trailrides. Oh, and the Ride Up Bar. Oh yeah. Mimosas and Bloody Marys on horseback? Heck yeah.
More on that later.
I've slept since then (though hardly well or a lot), so bear with me as I attempt to recount The Round Up.
Rob and his son having fully prepared our horses' tack, all we had left to do was mount up and make sure they were watered well before we headed off to meet up with the other folks. One thing was instantly clear about our mounts--they were very close friends and did not ken to being separated. When one trotted, the other trotted, when one walked, the others walked. When one galloped...we all screamed our heads of and nearly died (totally just exaggerating, mom!)...but that's a story for a later time.
We met up with the other riders--the real horsemen and women who brought their own horses and trailers and gear. It would have been a perfect opportunity for anyone of them to get snippy or holier than thou, or even just weirdly protective, but everyone was perfectly lovely and treated us and our rental horses as equals. It was pretty cool.
We got the lowdown on where we'd be headed, approximately where we would find the cattle (they had actually already been rounded up for the most part and brought in to a basin a few miles from the ranch--to save us all a lot of time and hassle), and where we were going to be bringing them. And then we rode. And rode. And then we rode some more. It was beautiful and sunny and cool, and just about as close to heaven as I could imagine. If there had been chocolate and a live band, it could have passed.
When we finally got to the basin where the cattle were hangin out, there were a few yet that had to be wrangled. We let the more experienced riders do this, instead opting to sit on our horses and listen to the incessant bleating of the calves and the lowing of the cows as they wondered what the HELL was going on. Damn, cattle are a noisy lot! Oddly, though, the acoustics were so amazing in the basin that even over the cacophony of the cattle, we could hear every word of every conversation being held--we could even hear the folks on the far edge of the basin chatting up the cows they were trying to bring in closer. Perhaps it was a shepherd who originally "invented" the outdoor amphitheatre?
Anyway, after we got all the strays collected, it was time to start moving them all back towards the ranch. We again had positions assigned along the creek bed to ensure that no one bolted from the pack and tried to backtrack into the sunset. I did not fully understand Princess' attachment to the other horses until I was given a spot in a tucked-back area, out of sight from nearly everyone else. She whinnied and pawed at the ground and shook her head and was generally a right bitch. I had to continuously walk her in circles just to keep her busy.
And then, all of the sudden...cattle! Many and lots of cattle, ambling by, wailing and moaning as though they were on some sort of cow-death-march (perhaps after all they were about to go through at the ranch, they were only wishing for death as a less torturous alternative). Just when I thought that this was all for show and that I would never have to actually *do* anything, there they were! A momma and her yearling broke ranks about 20 yards, one 2ft ledge, and 1 treeline from me. The fellow manning that spot had just left it to hustle in another errant pair, leaving a big ole hole that this couple wasted no time filling. I gave Princess a nudge and she LEAPED up the ledge (scaring the pee outta me) and in front of the cow and her calf. They looked stunned for half a second and then grudgingly got back in line, bellowing all the while.
Woohoo! I was a cowpoke for reals! I was so proud of myself, and of course NO one saw it, cos they were too busy doing the same thing. But it was cool, trust me!
After we got the cattle out of the creek bed, it was just an easy walk back to the ranch with them hugging the fenceline and us sort of walking along beside them telling them to hurry the hell up. Damned hoof-draggers.
After we got them little doggies (ha!) safely to the work pens, we turned our horses towards camp. And woe is me for forgetting the nature of the trail horse. Slow to go out, but DAMN when it's time to go home they always tend to move a little faster. A lot faster in our case, because S and I were a little pony-crazed and are speed demons to boot. So we nudged them from a trot to a canter, and then when they realised they were so close to "the Barn", they took off like bats outta Hades-full gallop. I'm fairly certain I was screaming like a banshee (with glee more than fear...but a little fear), and I know for a fact that I was gripping the pommel like it was the last remaining hope in a world of doom (it pretty much was, because at that point I'd lost at least one of my stirrups and I was kind of flailing).
It was terrifying, but OH it was fun! But it just meant that we were back in camp that much sooner and it was time to give the horses a rest and go eat lunch. Yep. All this was before lunch on the first day!!
Of course I don't have photos of any of this, because I didn't have saddlebags, and I wasn't about to risk losing my camera. Besides, when all the good stuff was goin' down, I was far too busy actually doin my job to take snapshots. ;)
There are a few other good stories to tell, and I'll tell them. But most of the rest of the weekend was trailrides, eating, sleeping, reading, eating, and more trailrides. Oh, and the Ride Up Bar. Oh yeah. Mimosas and Bloody Marys on horseback? Heck yeah.
More on that later.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
First Things First (Linkolicious!)
Something cool happened today.
I went for a Mountain Bike Ride at Pemberton this morning. It was about 1 hour and 45 minutes worth of climbing and scrambling and slogging through sand and blazing down hill. When we got back to the parking lot and started loading up, changing clothes, and getting ready to hit town for a good breakfast, I noticed that my little metal wallet(mine is orange, not pink!) was missing. I ransacked the xTerra, had other people go through my Camelbak in case I was just momentarily blind, and finally threatened to re-ride the entire trail to look for it.
Fortunately, the folks I was with talked me down from that stance, reminding me of the heat (it got up to around 100 degrees today!! In October!!) and the fact that it was highly likely that someone would find the wallet before I did and I'd just be wasting my time. So I stopped off at the visitors' station to give my description and my phone number, in case anyone happened to turn it in.
A fellow who happened to be there purchasing a yearly pass to the park asked where I thought I might have lost it. I showed him our route on the map, and the approximate location where we'd stopped and I dug a GU pack out of the top pocket of the Camelbak. My wallet had been in the same pocket, and I felt pretty confident that I'd just fumbled around enough to knock it out. He said he was just getting ready to head out on the trails and that he'd keep an eye out for it. I gave him my thanks and figured that'd be the last of it, since..well..stuff like that never works out, does it?
IT DOES!!
Shortly after arriving home and determining to thoroughly clean out the entire vehicle in case the wallet had slid between the seats or gotten buried under a heap of papers, my phone rang. The caller ID said "Blocked" but I figured I'd take a chance and answer it.
"Is this Kerri?" Yes! Yes it is! "Hi, this is McDowell Mt. Park Visitors' Center calling; someone has turned in your wallet. The gentleman is standing right here, would you like to talk to him?" Wow, yes, please! "Hi, this is the guy you talked to earlier--the wallet was exactly where you said it would be. I can meet you somewhere if you'd like...."
After recovering from fainting, taking a moment to do a little happy dance, give prayer to the Karma Gods, and catching my breath, I agreed to meet him on his way back into town.
He warned me that he saw a coyote loping away from the scene when he arrived and that I might ought to watch my charges for a while, lest any random ACME purchases show up (i.e. dynamite, bird feed, or road runner traps). :D
He also refused to accept my offers to send him some sort of thank you (a gift card to the bike shop of his choice, for example), the only part of this story that sucks. So do something nice for a stranger, won't you? Pass it on?
I'll get back to the horsey trails soon, really. But my Mini-Machine's battery is about to poof, so I gotta go juice it up. I need a nap too, come to think of it.
I went for a Mountain Bike Ride at Pemberton this morning. It was about 1 hour and 45 minutes worth of climbing and scrambling and slogging through sand and blazing down hill. When we got back to the parking lot and started loading up, changing clothes, and getting ready to hit town for a good breakfast, I noticed that my little metal wallet(mine is orange, not pink!) was missing. I ransacked the xTerra, had other people go through my Camelbak in case I was just momentarily blind, and finally threatened to re-ride the entire trail to look for it.
Fortunately, the folks I was with talked me down from that stance, reminding me of the heat (it got up to around 100 degrees today!! In October!!) and the fact that it was highly likely that someone would find the wallet before I did and I'd just be wasting my time. So I stopped off at the visitors' station to give my description and my phone number, in case anyone happened to turn it in.
A fellow who happened to be there purchasing a yearly pass to the park asked where I thought I might have lost it. I showed him our route on the map, and the approximate location where we'd stopped and I dug a GU pack out of the top pocket of the Camelbak. My wallet had been in the same pocket, and I felt pretty confident that I'd just fumbled around enough to knock it out. He said he was just getting ready to head out on the trails and that he'd keep an eye out for it. I gave him my thanks and figured that'd be the last of it, since..well..stuff like that never works out, does it?
IT DOES!!
Shortly after arriving home and determining to thoroughly clean out the entire vehicle in case the wallet had slid between the seats or gotten buried under a heap of papers, my phone rang. The caller ID said "Blocked" but I figured I'd take a chance and answer it.
"Is this Kerri?" Yes! Yes it is! "Hi, this is McDowell Mt. Park Visitors' Center calling; someone has turned in your wallet. The gentleman is standing right here, would you like to talk to him?" Wow, yes, please! "Hi, this is the guy you talked to earlier--the wallet was exactly where you said it would be. I can meet you somewhere if you'd like...."
After recovering from fainting, taking a moment to do a little happy dance, give prayer to the Karma Gods, and catching my breath, I agreed to meet him on his way back into town.
He warned me that he saw a coyote loping away from the scene when he arrived and that I might ought to watch my charges for a while, lest any random ACME purchases show up (i.e. dynamite, bird feed, or road runner traps). :D
He also refused to accept my offers to send him some sort of thank you (a gift card to the bike shop of his choice, for example), the only part of this story that sucks. So do something nice for a stranger, won't you? Pass it on?
I'll get back to the horsey trails soon, really. But my Mini-Machine's battery is about to poof, so I gotta go juice it up. I need a nap too, come to think of it.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Got A Good Grip?
Hope so, cos you're gonna have to keep hangin....
I went down to let the dogs out one more time before bed and got caught up in the trainwreck that is television. "House" was on, and before I could save myself, I had gotten sucked in. So it's late, and I'm sleepy, and I don't want to tell a long story about how awesome the cattle drive was.
Until I return, enjoy this sweet photo of Princess during her "Are you still on my back?" phase of Saturday afternoon:
I went down to let the dogs out one more time before bed and got caught up in the trainwreck that is television. "House" was on, and before I could save myself, I had gotten sucked in. So it's late, and I'm sleepy, and I don't want to tell a long story about how awesome the cattle drive was.
Until I return, enjoy this sweet photo of Princess during her "Are you still on my back?" phase of Saturday afternoon:
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Head 'em up, move 'em out...
Yeah, yeah, I know I promised this to you yesterday, but I dragged myself to bed later than I had hoped to and I just wanted to sleep. You may point out that it's later still tonight than even Monday's post, but this is by choice. I decided that since the dogs are plotting against me EVER getting a full night's sleep this week (Bucket crying to go out and poo at 2:30am Tuesday morning, Delilah barking at who knows what this morning at 4am), that I'd just roll with it and quit trying to go to bed early. But I digress.
Country Catering and Cattle Round Ups. That's why you're here. I may not make it much past breakfast today, because, well...I am tired. But we'll get there eventually.
So there was this big whiteboard advertising breakfast from 6am to 6:45am that we had seen the night before. And sure enough, 6am rolled around and there was an honest-to-god breakfast bell. It wasn't a triangle or an iron bell like we used to have waaaay back when on "the farm", but it was a giant oversized copper cowbell of sorts. And they weren't shy about using it to let us know that it was time to get up and get movin.
Breakfast done cowboy style, but with a bit more finesse... Pancakes (I passed), bacon (I sure as heck didn't!), eggs to order, fresh fruit, juice, coffee, cocoa. It was an amazing spread and we ate as though we wouldn't see food again for days. Probably a bad choice, looking back on it, as it was just a gateway meal to many other overindulgences, but boy was it good.
We met up with our rental horse wrangler, Rob, who gave us our assignments. My horse? Princess, a formal barrel horse with "some spunk". Eep. Considering that I hadn't ridden in something like 6 or 7 years, and then only for a short short stint around the jousting ranch in OKC, I was the tiniest bit nervous about whether or not I would be able to sit a "spunky" horse. S would be on Dunbar, and Roommate K would be on Sunflower, whom S had ridden the year previous and had warned us was a big ole stick in the mud. If K was at all disappointed, she didn't show it, but took it in perfect stride.
We went and got our cowduds on (yes, we ate in our pajamas, but lest anyone worry themselves about me traipsing around in a tank top and holy pajama bottoms, let me remind you that we were camping. on a ranch. in october. I was sharing a tent with two other people, and it was chilly. I was more clothed than I often am during the Phoenix summer!), and went to where the horses were kept. To our surprise, Rob and his son had gotten all of our horses completely ready and saddled. All we had to do was water them and tighten the cinches and make sure our stirrups were set to the right height.
I really do have photos, and I really will post some someday. But for now I'll just tell you that while I dreamed for months of having a paint pony or a buckskin, and dreaded the ever-popular "brown horse", that's pretty much what Princess was. Almost a Bay, but too scruffy to pass. Not light enough to pass for Sorrel... (and here I act like I know what the hell I'm talking about! ha!). But she was a tall horse, and relatively narrow, for which I would be eternally grateful. She tested me a bit, but we eventually got along like...well, like a trail horse and a noob rider. :)
Dunbar was a stocky little thing, and even sassier than Princess, and more brown and plain. But he totally suited S--they looked like they'd been together forever. And Sunflower was the perfect match for Roommate K...a gorgeous palomino paint that looked like it had been created just for the shiny, bubbly blond.
After we watered up and rode around the camp for a bit to get adjusted, it was time to ride out.
And true to form, I've exhausted myself in the telling thus far, and my eyes are stinging me to sleep. So the actual tale of the ride will have to wait, yet again!
I like to keep you hangin. ;)
Country Catering and Cattle Round Ups. That's why you're here. I may not make it much past breakfast today, because, well...I am tired. But we'll get there eventually.
So there was this big whiteboard advertising breakfast from 6am to 6:45am that we had seen the night before. And sure enough, 6am rolled around and there was an honest-to-god breakfast bell. It wasn't a triangle or an iron bell like we used to have waaaay back when on "the farm", but it was a giant oversized copper cowbell of sorts. And they weren't shy about using it to let us know that it was time to get up and get movin.
Breakfast done cowboy style, but with a bit more finesse... Pancakes (I passed), bacon (I sure as heck didn't!), eggs to order, fresh fruit, juice, coffee, cocoa. It was an amazing spread and we ate as though we wouldn't see food again for days. Probably a bad choice, looking back on it, as it was just a gateway meal to many other overindulgences, but boy was it good.
We met up with our rental horse wrangler, Rob, who gave us our assignments. My horse? Princess, a formal barrel horse with "some spunk". Eep. Considering that I hadn't ridden in something like 6 or 7 years, and then only for a short short stint around the jousting ranch in OKC, I was the tiniest bit nervous about whether or not I would be able to sit a "spunky" horse. S would be on Dunbar, and Roommate K would be on Sunflower, whom S had ridden the year previous and had warned us was a big ole stick in the mud. If K was at all disappointed, she didn't show it, but took it in perfect stride.
We went and got our cowduds on (yes, we ate in our pajamas, but lest anyone worry themselves about me traipsing around in a tank top and holy pajama bottoms, let me remind you that we were camping. on a ranch. in october. I was sharing a tent with two other people, and it was chilly. I was more clothed than I often am during the Phoenix summer!), and went to where the horses were kept. To our surprise, Rob and his son had gotten all of our horses completely ready and saddled. All we had to do was water them and tighten the cinches and make sure our stirrups were set to the right height.
I really do have photos, and I really will post some someday. But for now I'll just tell you that while I dreamed for months of having a paint pony or a buckskin, and dreaded the ever-popular "brown horse", that's pretty much what Princess was. Almost a Bay, but too scruffy to pass. Not light enough to pass for Sorrel... (and here I act like I know what the hell I'm talking about! ha!). But she was a tall horse, and relatively narrow, for which I would be eternally grateful. She tested me a bit, but we eventually got along like...well, like a trail horse and a noob rider. :)
Dunbar was a stocky little thing, and even sassier than Princess, and more brown and plain. But he totally suited S--they looked like they'd been together forever. And Sunflower was the perfect match for Roommate K...a gorgeous palomino paint that looked like it had been created just for the shiny, bubbly blond.
After we watered up and rode around the camp for a bit to get adjusted, it was time to ride out.
And true to form, I've exhausted myself in the telling thus far, and my eyes are stinging me to sleep. So the actual tale of the ride will have to wait, yet again!
I like to keep you hangin. ;)
Monday, October 12, 2009
Poke Poke Poke*
So last week I was entirely too excited and busy to tell you about my then upcoming weekend. I wanted to just jot a quick note about it, but was afraid that I would just ramble on and on and never get any sleep (such as I am likely about to do).
What could possibly have been so exciting, you ask? Another epic mountain bike ride? A fantastic hike? A trip to Parts Unknown?
No no no. I went on a cattle drive! My friend S mentioned it to me months ago when we first met. Said she: "There is this cattle drive in October, and anyone can go and they rent horses if you don't have one and it's full of win and awesomesauce." Said I: "Count me in!"
And time passed and I got the infos and I sent in my registration and my horse rental fees. I got a three man tent, a sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad of my own (thanks, Folks, for the REI gift certificate!!). I made a concerted effort to shed a few pounds, lest I break the back of whatever pitiful pony I got to ride. I got out my old black motorcycle boots and planned and packed my gear for days before hand (although not as painstakingly as my friend Shanny might have ;) ).
Thursday came and S and Roommate arrived to whisk me away to The Ranch. The place is just about an hour north of Phoenix, but we got a late start and arrived long after dark. We managed to set up my never-before-used tent easily (/flex!), and got ready for a good night's sleep before the 6am breakfast bell set to clangin.
Little did we know that we were surrounded by pens full of deer, and these deer had the most peculiar and baleful calls ever heard. We were caught up being simultaneously creeped out and curious about these calls when the horses started whinnying. As we lay cramped together in the tent listening to the cacophony, Roommate K ventured to ask what the horses might have been saying to one another. S was only too happy to oblige us with a translation, which included her very own rendition of "pony speak". I'm sure our camping neighbours were befuddled, to say the least, at the arrival of these three girls whinnying and giggling til all hours in their tent.
Tomorrow, 6am Cowboy breakfast, and my first cattle drive!
*get it? Cowpoke? :)
What could possibly have been so exciting, you ask? Another epic mountain bike ride? A fantastic hike? A trip to Parts Unknown?
No no no. I went on a cattle drive! My friend S mentioned it to me months ago when we first met. Said she: "There is this cattle drive in October, and anyone can go and they rent horses if you don't have one and it's full of win and awesomesauce." Said I: "Count me in!"
And time passed and I got the infos and I sent in my registration and my horse rental fees. I got a three man tent, a sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad of my own (thanks, Folks, for the REI gift certificate!!). I made a concerted effort to shed a few pounds, lest I break the back of whatever pitiful pony I got to ride. I got out my old black motorcycle boots and planned and packed my gear for days before hand (although not as painstakingly as my friend Shanny might have ;) ).
Thursday came and S and Roommate arrived to whisk me away to The Ranch. The place is just about an hour north of Phoenix, but we got a late start and arrived long after dark. We managed to set up my never-before-used tent easily (/flex!), and got ready for a good night's sleep before the 6am breakfast bell set to clangin.
Little did we know that we were surrounded by pens full of deer, and these deer had the most peculiar and baleful calls ever heard. We were caught up being simultaneously creeped out and curious about these calls when the horses started whinnying. As we lay cramped together in the tent listening to the cacophony, Roommate K ventured to ask what the horses might have been saying to one another. S was only too happy to oblige us with a translation, which included her very own rendition of "pony speak". I'm sure our camping neighbours were befuddled, to say the least, at the arrival of these three girls whinnying and giggling til all hours in their tent.
Tomorrow, 6am Cowboy breakfast, and my first cattle drive!
*get it? Cowpoke? :)
Sunday, October 04, 2009
October
Time, she does fly. It's October already? I'm certainly not complaining, as the beginning of month ten has ushered in a cold front (ha!) of sorts for us desert dwellers. The mornings are crisp again, and the highs have hovered around 90 for the later part of this week, and it has been glorious.
Of course, that also means that I don't have any more excuses for not getting off my butt and out of the house. To that end, I went out today and bought some new "road" tires for my old Giant Cadex. I'm going to use it as my commuter bike so that I don't have to swap out tires on my Jamis, or remove the panniers and trunk every time I want to go for an actual mt. bike ride. I don't aim to ride every day of the week, but at 10 miles round trip, even a few days a week will be a good addition of exercise and fresh air to my world--not to mention a bit of a savings on gas for the Jeep.
Now, if I and the other 2 bike commuters at work could just convince the powers that be to put a shower into one of our ginormous bathrooms at work, we'd be set. Until then, I'll just stock up on baby wipes and be thankful that I work in a non-public office with a bunch of engineers and geeks who think dressing up is tucking their t-shirts into a pair of jeans.
Of course, that also means that I don't have any more excuses for not getting off my butt and out of the house. To that end, I went out today and bought some new "road" tires for my old Giant Cadex. I'm going to use it as my commuter bike so that I don't have to swap out tires on my Jamis, or remove the panniers and trunk every time I want to go for an actual mt. bike ride. I don't aim to ride every day of the week, but at 10 miles round trip, even a few days a week will be a good addition of exercise and fresh air to my world--not to mention a bit of a savings on gas for the Jeep.
Now, if I and the other 2 bike commuters at work could just convince the powers that be to put a shower into one of our ginormous bathrooms at work, we'd be set. Until then, I'll just stock up on baby wipes and be thankful that I work in a non-public office with a bunch of engineers and geeks who think dressing up is tucking their t-shirts into a pair of jeans.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Big Brother is watching...your click throughs?
I went to an offsite seminar for work today. It was a training/informational workshop regarding email marketing through a company called Constant Contact.
While from a business perspective it was totally exciting to learn about the amazing amount of information they could collect and compile regarding customers' response to emails, from a personal perspective it was downright creepy.
They can tell what time of day you opened that email. They can tell whether or not you clicked any links--and which links you clicked! They can tell if you forwarded the email, and--in some cases--whether the person you forwarded it to has opened/clicked through.
And again, I was really excited to learn about all this and think of ways that it could help our little company market our products more effectively... The resources, tools, and data available through a company like this (there are many others in the same business; Constant Contact certainly haven't monopolised the market) are simply incredible, and invaluable if used correctly and consistently.
Still, I couldn't help but be a little creeped out by the thought that the next email I open is going to tell some stranger in a cubicle somewhere more about me than it ought. The next product I check out in that same email is going to peg me as "A cyclist" or "A camper" or "A Tree Hugger". It sort of makes me want to click on all the wrong things, just to jack with the system and see what kind of tweaked list it gets me into. Maybe I can get REI to stop sending me camping and cycling related emails, and start targeting me with climbing and scuba diving gearmails.
It was an interesting day, indeed. But hey, I got some amazing Thai food and 6 hours out of the office. Almost worth the feeling of paranoia instilled in me.
While from a business perspective it was totally exciting to learn about the amazing amount of information they could collect and compile regarding customers' response to emails, from a personal perspective it was downright creepy.
They can tell what time of day you opened that email. They can tell whether or not you clicked any links--and which links you clicked! They can tell if you forwarded the email, and--in some cases--whether the person you forwarded it to has opened/clicked through.
And again, I was really excited to learn about all this and think of ways that it could help our little company market our products more effectively... The resources, tools, and data available through a company like this (there are many others in the same business; Constant Contact certainly haven't monopolised the market) are simply incredible, and invaluable if used correctly and consistently.
Still, I couldn't help but be a little creeped out by the thought that the next email I open is going to tell some stranger in a cubicle somewhere more about me than it ought. The next product I check out in that same email is going to peg me as "A cyclist" or "A camper" or "A Tree Hugger". It sort of makes me want to click on all the wrong things, just to jack with the system and see what kind of tweaked list it gets me into. Maybe I can get REI to stop sending me camping and cycling related emails, and start targeting me with climbing and scuba diving gearmails.
It was an interesting day, indeed. But hey, I got some amazing Thai food and 6 hours out of the office. Almost worth the feeling of paranoia instilled in me.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Summer Hiatus
Are you buying that? I just made it up, but it's essentially what happened. In normal parts of the world, summer is the time for playing outdoors and having adventures and whatnot. In Phoenix, summer is the time for hiding in the shaded air conditioning for all daylight hours and most of the night.
I didn't figure that anyone would be terribly excited to hear about the many ways one can find to slack off in the A/C during the Phoenix summer, so I simply quit writing. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
However, the temperature is at least starting to hint at taking a downturn here (it gets all the way down to 75 degrees at night now, instead of hovering around 100, which means I can wear a regular t-shirt on my 6am dog walks instead of the ever-present tank top), and so the calendar starts to fill with things like biking excursions and cattle round-ups. Yes. More on that later.
I just got back today from a trip back to Kansas City to visit my best friend and my parents. It was a quick long weekend, just so that I could see my friend as a pregnant woman before baby number two makes her arrival. I missed it the first time around (saving the photos), and have never forgiven myself for it. Babies and the whole giving birth thing have always freaked me out, so I'll just say that it was pretty crazy seeing my best high school buddy three weeks from doing so.
I not so secretly hoped that she would go into labour while I was there so I could be around for it, but not even being jostled around by zealous Social Distortion fans at the concert on Saturday night had any real effect. C is just not ready for the world yet, I suppose, and you can't blame the kid for wanting to take her time. It's a jungle out here, after all.
Anyway. With the onset of fall and cooler weather, I hope to be getting out of the house more and have some stories to tell. Next big adventure: the aforementioned Cattle Round Up. I had a few small adventures a bit later in the summer that may bear mentioning, but we'll just have to see about that another time. K and her babies wear me out, and I've got to get some shuteye.
I didn't figure that anyone would be terribly excited to hear about the many ways one can find to slack off in the A/C during the Phoenix summer, so I simply quit writing. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
However, the temperature is at least starting to hint at taking a downturn here (it gets all the way down to 75 degrees at night now, instead of hovering around 100, which means I can wear a regular t-shirt on my 6am dog walks instead of the ever-present tank top), and so the calendar starts to fill with things like biking excursions and cattle round-ups. Yes. More on that later.
I just got back today from a trip back to Kansas City to visit my best friend and my parents. It was a quick long weekend, just so that I could see my friend as a pregnant woman before baby number two makes her arrival. I missed it the first time around (saving the photos), and have never forgiven myself for it. Babies and the whole giving birth thing have always freaked me out, so I'll just say that it was pretty crazy seeing my best high school buddy three weeks from doing so.
I not so secretly hoped that she would go into labour while I was there so I could be around for it, but not even being jostled around by zealous Social Distortion fans at the concert on Saturday night had any real effect. C is just not ready for the world yet, I suppose, and you can't blame the kid for wanting to take her time. It's a jungle out here, after all.
Anyway. With the onset of fall and cooler weather, I hope to be getting out of the house more and have some stories to tell. Next big adventure: the aforementioned Cattle Round Up. I had a few small adventures a bit later in the summer that may bear mentioning, but we'll just have to see about that another time. K and her babies wear me out, and I've got to get some shuteye.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Edumacation
Today, as most students are celebrating the end of the school year, I'm just getting started with my photography class. Yes! I finally signed myself up for a class so that I will become a little more familiar with (and a lot less scared of) my new camera. Tonight was the first night of 6 classes-including one field trip to the Desert Botanical Gardens. It started with a quiz to prove how nublet we all are, and ended with 2 homework assignments to produce four photographs proving our calculated experimentations with shutter speed and aperture.
I'm wildly excited by the whole thing, despite being nervous and freaked out just a day or so ago. I'm still a little nervous and anxious about the possibility that I'm really not a photographer, but just lucky with a camera so far. I suppose there has to be room to learn, however. So perhaps even if I'm not now, I will someday be.
I'll probably be doing the homework this weekend as part of it involves bright sunlight and moving vehicles. I'll let you know how that goes. :)
I'm wildly excited by the whole thing, despite being nervous and freaked out just a day or so ago. I'm still a little nervous and anxious about the possibility that I'm really not a photographer, but just lucky with a camera so far. I suppose there has to be room to learn, however. So perhaps even if I'm not now, I will someday be.
I'll probably be doing the homework this weekend as part of it involves bright sunlight and moving vehicles. I'll let you know how that goes. :)
Monday, May 25, 2009
The Downhill is a Lie
I signed up for the Flagstaff to Sedona ride on the mistaken belief that it was "all downhill". I knew, of course, that it wouldn't *all* be down hill, but we were led to believe by several sources that it was at least primarily downhill. This turned out to be an awful awful lie.
One fellow, after the ride, posted his GPS results here (click on the "player" button on the far right to see a pretty cool animation of the ride). Apparently we climbed 2143feet and descended 4824 feet. That, my friends, is a LOT of climbing. Especially when the bulk of the trail looks like this:
This meant that we spent a lot of our time doing this:
The pine needles mixed with the clayey mud formed what must be the world's strongest natural cement on our bikes. Several times, people with caliper breaks found that their wheels would simply no longer turn. Folks like me (a bit on the heavier side) found that even after cleaning all the gunk off of our tires, it still felt like we were running on flats. It wasn't like riding through mud...it was, literally, riding through mud.
Oh, and did I mention that it was a 40+ mile ride? Yes. Bike computers varied, but were in the range of 39-41 miles. I had no business on a ride like this, but feeling confident that it was "All Downhill", I figured I could manage. Well. What the organizers advertised as a 4-5 hour ride ended up taking close to 7(nearly 8 according to the above linked data, which I think is slightly off), I think? Perhaps longer. And it was mostly because yours truly averaged approximately 6mph--even with the 30+mph downhills factored in. I just wasn't ready for it. But with many stops and a bit of walking up some of the more heinous climbs, I made it. And while it was all beautiful, the views towards the end of the ride down Schnebly Hill Road were just...awesome. Here are some more shots from the day. I'll let most of them speak for themselves, as I am both tired and lazy at this point in the day.
I busted my chain about 3 miles into the ride. Good times. Fortunately there were mechanically inclined people there to help. And people with cameras and no sympathy. :)
Don't let this photo fool you. I was usually *much* farther behind the pack than this...
After trudging through the rain up Schnebly Hill with a sore knee and thoughts of heralding one of the many Forest Service Trucks, we (the other 2 fellows willing to take it easy with me) simultaneously topped a hill and rounded a corner to see the views in the last 4 photos. It was a completely jaw-dropping moment. I'm fairly certain that I squealed, dropped my bike and ran to the edge of the road/overlook and just gaped for several minutes. I won't say that I forgot the incredible pain and shame of the previous part of the ride, climbing and trudging through all that mud--but I will say that these views really did make it all worthwhile.
Well, the views and the bragging rights. I rode a 40 mile bike ride, uphill, through mud and rain. I rode from Flagstaff to Sedona!
One fellow, after the ride, posted his GPS results here (click on the "player" button on the far right to see a pretty cool animation of the ride). Apparently we climbed 2143feet and descended 4824 feet. That, my friends, is a LOT of climbing. Especially when the bulk of the trail looks like this:
This meant that we spent a lot of our time doing this:
The pine needles mixed with the clayey mud formed what must be the world's strongest natural cement on our bikes. Several times, people with caliper breaks found that their wheels would simply no longer turn. Folks like me (a bit on the heavier side) found that even after cleaning all the gunk off of our tires, it still felt like we were running on flats. It wasn't like riding through mud...it was, literally, riding through mud.
Oh, and did I mention that it was a 40+ mile ride? Yes. Bike computers varied, but were in the range of 39-41 miles. I had no business on a ride like this, but feeling confident that it was "All Downhill", I figured I could manage. Well. What the organizers advertised as a 4-5 hour ride ended up taking close to 7(nearly 8 according to the above linked data, which I think is slightly off), I think? Perhaps longer. And it was mostly because yours truly averaged approximately 6mph--even with the 30+mph downhills factored in. I just wasn't ready for it. But with many stops and a bit of walking up some of the more heinous climbs, I made it. And while it was all beautiful, the views towards the end of the ride down Schnebly Hill Road were just...awesome. Here are some more shots from the day. I'll let most of them speak for themselves, as I am both tired and lazy at this point in the day.
I busted my chain about 3 miles into the ride. Good times. Fortunately there were mechanically inclined people there to help. And people with cameras and no sympathy. :)
Don't let this photo fool you. I was usually *much* farther behind the pack than this...
After trudging through the rain up Schnebly Hill with a sore knee and thoughts of heralding one of the many Forest Service Trucks, we (the other 2 fellows willing to take it easy with me) simultaneously topped a hill and rounded a corner to see the views in the last 4 photos. It was a completely jaw-dropping moment. I'm fairly certain that I squealed, dropped my bike and ran to the edge of the road/overlook and just gaped for several minutes. I won't say that I forgot the incredible pain and shame of the previous part of the ride, climbing and trudging through all that mud--but I will say that these views really did make it all worthwhile.
Well, the views and the bragging rights. I rode a 40 mile bike ride, uphill, through mud and rain. I rode from Flagstaff to Sedona!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
IOU
Stories. And photos.
For the past two weekends, I've been out galavanting on the trails of Arizona with my trusty bike. Last weekend it was trails around Bell Rock in Sedona. It was supposed to be a relatively easy 3.5 miles out and back (7mi round trip). It ended up being 12 miles total, uphill in all directions, but with some really awesome singletrack technical(ish) stuff that I loved. I also met some really cool folks, with whom I also rode yesterday. More about that in a moment. Let's look at some photographic evidence of the Bell Rock Ride:
Really godawful facial expression here, but I like it! This was a rocky, nasty climb that many people hike-a-biked (I cleaned it on the first try with much grunting and an amazingly loud cry of triumph at the top). The guy that took the photo had perched at the base of the climb and I very nearly ran him over.
I like this one much better. I don't look completely ridiculous, and besides, you get lovely Cathedral Rock in the background!
After the ride, we drove down to Oak Creek and played in the water for a while, and happened to bear witness to a rather unique wedding. There was a pathway of rocks across part of the creek where we were, and at one point we saw a gentleman with a Native American Flute and an amplifier stepping carefully across. When we asked him what he was doing way out here with an amp, he simply replied "A Wedding" and geststured across the creek. Up on a little hill above the creek was a gazebo, and we all assumed it would be there; but shortly after crossing the creek, he set up his stuff in the middle of a flat slick-rock type area and began to play.
Shortly thereafter, we saw an American Indian (no idea what tribe) coming down the hill--he was a shaman or priest or spiritual leader of some sort--in full regalia. Feathers, full buckskin, a huge drum, and a half-gourd with sage and feathers. Closely behind him were the bride and groom--in traditional white gown and tux. She took off her high heels to walk across the creek rocks, and her groom was good enough to carry both her shoes and her flowers so that she could keep better balance. Unable to stand there speechless, one of our group members mentioned something about her pedicure, to which she responded "All the way from England!". So it turns out that this couple had traveled to this tiny little creek in the middle of nowhere Arizona to be married in a Vortex area by an Indian (I'll call him) Shaman. They did the blanket transfer, and held the feathers and the shaman cleansed the area with the sage. We watched from a distance, and several people egged me to take photos, but I refused. It just didn't seem right.
Trust me when I tell you, though...it was pretty damn cool to bear witness to such a thing. Oh, and the bike ride...it was awesome too.
And tomorrow, since I'm off work (hooray!), I'll tell you the story of Flagstaff to Sedona. Here's a preview:
For the past two weekends, I've been out galavanting on the trails of Arizona with my trusty bike. Last weekend it was trails around Bell Rock in Sedona. It was supposed to be a relatively easy 3.5 miles out and back (7mi round trip). It ended up being 12 miles total, uphill in all directions, but with some really awesome singletrack technical(ish) stuff that I loved. I also met some really cool folks, with whom I also rode yesterday. More about that in a moment. Let's look at some photographic evidence of the Bell Rock Ride:
Really godawful facial expression here, but I like it! This was a rocky, nasty climb that many people hike-a-biked (I cleaned it on the first try with much grunting and an amazingly loud cry of triumph at the top). The guy that took the photo had perched at the base of the climb and I very nearly ran him over.
I like this one much better. I don't look completely ridiculous, and besides, you get lovely Cathedral Rock in the background!
After the ride, we drove down to Oak Creek and played in the water for a while, and happened to bear witness to a rather unique wedding. There was a pathway of rocks across part of the creek where we were, and at one point we saw a gentleman with a Native American Flute and an amplifier stepping carefully across. When we asked him what he was doing way out here with an amp, he simply replied "A Wedding" and geststured across the creek. Up on a little hill above the creek was a gazebo, and we all assumed it would be there; but shortly after crossing the creek, he set up his stuff in the middle of a flat slick-rock type area and began to play.
Shortly thereafter, we saw an American Indian (no idea what tribe) coming down the hill--he was a shaman or priest or spiritual leader of some sort--in full regalia. Feathers, full buckskin, a huge drum, and a half-gourd with sage and feathers. Closely behind him were the bride and groom--in traditional white gown and tux. She took off her high heels to walk across the creek rocks, and her groom was good enough to carry both her shoes and her flowers so that she could keep better balance. Unable to stand there speechless, one of our group members mentioned something about her pedicure, to which she responded "All the way from England!". So it turns out that this couple had traveled to this tiny little creek in the middle of nowhere Arizona to be married in a Vortex area by an Indian (I'll call him) Shaman. They did the blanket transfer, and held the feathers and the shaman cleansed the area with the sage. We watched from a distance, and several people egged me to take photos, but I refused. It just didn't seem right.
Trust me when I tell you, though...it was pretty damn cool to bear witness to such a thing. Oh, and the bike ride...it was awesome too.
And tomorrow, since I'm off work (hooray!), I'll tell you the story of Flagstaff to Sedona. Here's a preview:
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Ride Ride Ride
I'm a big fan of Meetup.com. True, I don't often partake of the myriad opportunities it provides, but I've never regretted it on the rare occasions that I do.
Yesterday I went on a bike ride in Sedona. It was advertised as 3.5 miles of easy to moderate riding--beginners welcome. I'm far from being a beginner, but I am rather out of shape, so I figured it was right up my alley. Well, 11 miles later I was huffing and puffing and gasping for breath--and at one point I was seriously concerned about the possibility of heat exhaustion once again. There were far more climbs than anticipated, and I hadn't taken into account the relatively high altitude. I was at the back of the pack (and if you know me at all, you know that that is *NOT* my comfort zone) the entire time, and doing a great deal of hike-a-bike.
And I would do it again tomorrow if I could!
Although completely exhausted afterwards, I was also oddly energized. Perhaps it was the vortexes in and around Bell Rock. Perhaps it was just the adrenaline. Perhaps it's just that my heart is *still* beating a bit above the normally recognised limit (not true, not true...just a figure of speech!)... At any rate, although it was so difficult and painful at times, it was also just incredibly beautiful to be out there. I rode with a great bunch of people and pushed myself beyond anything I'd ever attempt on my own little jaunts around here.
Ultimately, I think that was the most enjoyable part--pushing myself to do something that would have been so easy to give up on. I tried--and succeeded--riding some technical bits that not everyone else could clear. I tried--and failed--on many more. But I was out there pushing myself and that was its own reward.
And on that note, it's 9:38pm and I'm going to sleep. I'm still exhausted! And 5:30am with the hounds will be here all too soon. I'll try to post some photos in the next couple days. <3
Yesterday I went on a bike ride in Sedona. It was advertised as 3.5 miles of easy to moderate riding--beginners welcome. I'm far from being a beginner, but I am rather out of shape, so I figured it was right up my alley. Well, 11 miles later I was huffing and puffing and gasping for breath--and at one point I was seriously concerned about the possibility of heat exhaustion once again. There were far more climbs than anticipated, and I hadn't taken into account the relatively high altitude. I was at the back of the pack (and if you know me at all, you know that that is *NOT* my comfort zone) the entire time, and doing a great deal of hike-a-bike.
And I would do it again tomorrow if I could!
Although completely exhausted afterwards, I was also oddly energized. Perhaps it was the vortexes in and around Bell Rock. Perhaps it was just the adrenaline. Perhaps it's just that my heart is *still* beating a bit above the normally recognised limit (not true, not true...just a figure of speech!)... At any rate, although it was so difficult and painful at times, it was also just incredibly beautiful to be out there. I rode with a great bunch of people and pushed myself beyond anything I'd ever attempt on my own little jaunts around here.
Ultimately, I think that was the most enjoyable part--pushing myself to do something that would have been so easy to give up on. I tried--and succeeded--riding some technical bits that not everyone else could clear. I tried--and failed--on many more. But I was out there pushing myself and that was its own reward.
And on that note, it's 9:38pm and I'm going to sleep. I'm still exhausted! And 5:30am with the hounds will be here all too soon. I'll try to post some photos in the next couple days. <3
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
aka: where the last week went
It's been a busy week--not really because I have anything going on in my real life, but because WoW has these insidious in-game "events" with linked achievements. The ocd part of me (approximately 85% percent) is compelled to participate and complete these little mini games, which causes late nights and errors in judgement.
Such as...not fixing the salmon as soon as I should have.
I bought salmon at the grocery last Sunday, much like I often do. I generally cook it the same night or the next. Very occasionally I'll cook it two days later. This week, I waited until Wednesday, because for some odd reason both Monday and Tuesday found us with other dinner plans. I should have ignored the nagging voice in my head saying "Don't waste it; it'll be fine!". I should *not* have ignored the extraordinarily fishy smell when I unwrapped my dinner-to-be. And I really should have just reached for a Lean Cuisine dinner as the salmon steamed and went through a particularly nasty phase of stink. But it *looked* fine. It *tasted* fine...
(R, the luckiest man alive, was feeling a bit low that night and slept right through dinner, and escaped my cruel fate...)
Thursday morning I had a 7am appointment for a boob-squishin. I woke up at about 5:30am with a massive, MASSIVE headache, but chalked it up to not getting enough sleep. Made it into my appointment, had the girls checked out, and headed to work. The headache got worse and worse and, having had my own little wimpy versions of migraines before, I chalked the mounting nausea up to the intense pain in my noggin. And then, despite the chilliness of the office, I began to sweat. I felt dizzy, and couldn't focus on my work. I did, however, manage to focus a few moments to the CDC page on symptoms of the H1-N1 flu... It seemed possible, but not likely, so I just continued to believe it was the headache.
And then, after whining to my coworker that I felt like I was going to throw up...I did. R swears that I threw up while we had the house in OKC, but I honestly don't remember throwing up since I lived in Lawrence--that would be something like 8 years ago. I just don't throw up. So when I actually did, I did three things. 1) Felt immensely better, tho not...good, 2) Immediately went home, and 3) started considering the fact that it very well could have been my stinky salmon doing these horrible things to me.
When I got home I rolled around in agony for a few more hours, throwing up twice more in the process. To those of you who manage to experience this bodily function with relative regularity, I apologise. The mere thought of it is often enough to elicit sympathy hurls, I know. But it's just such an oddity for me, and I find it fascinating. It really felt like my body wanted to turn itself inside out. It was completely awful and, thankfully, it was completely over by about 3 or 4pm. I still had a ridiculous headache, but I was no longer beading with sweat, feeling hot and then freezing, threatening to topple over anytime I stood up, or going cross-eyed trying to read my book, my mail, or my computer screen.
I left work around 10am, so missed a good portion of the day. I went in an hour early and stayed about 1.30 late on Friday, both trying to catch up and get ahead for Monday. It's a shame that I missed so many hours this week, because I'd found out on Monday last that I'm getting a raise! A whole $1.00/hour! I'm totally not being facaetious with that comment either. A dollar raise is huge in any situation, but particularly now with the economy being the way it is, and with our little company plugging away tenuously at best... So I was very excited and proud of myself on that note, but missing most of the day Thursday will probably just put me back where I have been! Oh well, there is always next pay period. :)
I could go on, and relate the Saga of the New Telly...but it's late, and 6am no longer guarantees temperatures below 80`.
I would like to send a thank you to Shanny for her naming suggestions. While I literally lol'd when I read them, I will respectfully decline them. Especially Jedadiah. Mostly becuase I'm pretty sure my eeePC is a girl. It's very ambiguous at this point, and could honestly go either way. But Jedadiah is a strapping young lad who works on a farm with his Pa and studies scripture fervently. Not that there is *anything* wrong with such a life. I just think that we're looking for something a little..different. Perhaps I could call it Eric. If ever an inanimate object summoned demons, it was assuredly a computer.
See, I should have just told the telly story. Much safer. :)
Such as...not fixing the salmon as soon as I should have.
I bought salmon at the grocery last Sunday, much like I often do. I generally cook it the same night or the next. Very occasionally I'll cook it two days later. This week, I waited until Wednesday, because for some odd reason both Monday and Tuesday found us with other dinner plans. I should have ignored the nagging voice in my head saying "Don't waste it; it'll be fine!". I should *not* have ignored the extraordinarily fishy smell when I unwrapped my dinner-to-be. And I really should have just reached for a Lean Cuisine dinner as the salmon steamed and went through a particularly nasty phase of stink. But it *looked* fine. It *tasted* fine...
(R, the luckiest man alive, was feeling a bit low that night and slept right through dinner, and escaped my cruel fate...)
Thursday morning I had a 7am appointment for a boob-squishin. I woke up at about 5:30am with a massive, MASSIVE headache, but chalked it up to not getting enough sleep. Made it into my appointment, had the girls checked out, and headed to work. The headache got worse and worse and, having had my own little wimpy versions of migraines before, I chalked the mounting nausea up to the intense pain in my noggin. And then, despite the chilliness of the office, I began to sweat. I felt dizzy, and couldn't focus on my work. I did, however, manage to focus a few moments to the CDC page on symptoms of the H1-N1 flu... It seemed possible, but not likely, so I just continued to believe it was the headache.
And then, after whining to my coworker that I felt like I was going to throw up...I did. R swears that I threw up while we had the house in OKC, but I honestly don't remember throwing up since I lived in Lawrence--that would be something like 8 years ago. I just don't throw up. So when I actually did, I did three things. 1) Felt immensely better, tho not...good, 2) Immediately went home, and 3) started considering the fact that it very well could have been my stinky salmon doing these horrible things to me.
When I got home I rolled around in agony for a few more hours, throwing up twice more in the process. To those of you who manage to experience this bodily function with relative regularity, I apologise. The mere thought of it is often enough to elicit sympathy hurls, I know. But it's just such an oddity for me, and I find it fascinating. It really felt like my body wanted to turn itself inside out. It was completely awful and, thankfully, it was completely over by about 3 or 4pm. I still had a ridiculous headache, but I was no longer beading with sweat, feeling hot and then freezing, threatening to topple over anytime I stood up, or going cross-eyed trying to read my book, my mail, or my computer screen.
I left work around 10am, so missed a good portion of the day. I went in an hour early and stayed about 1.30 late on Friday, both trying to catch up and get ahead for Monday. It's a shame that I missed so many hours this week, because I'd found out on Monday last that I'm getting a raise! A whole $1.00/hour! I'm totally not being facaetious with that comment either. A dollar raise is huge in any situation, but particularly now with the economy being the way it is, and with our little company plugging away tenuously at best... So I was very excited and proud of myself on that note, but missing most of the day Thursday will probably just put me back where I have been! Oh well, there is always next pay period. :)
I could go on, and relate the Saga of the New Telly...but it's late, and 6am no longer guarantees temperatures below 80`.
I would like to send a thank you to Shanny for her naming suggestions. While I literally lol'd when I read them, I will respectfully decline them. Especially Jedadiah. Mostly becuase I'm pretty sure my eeePC is a girl. It's very ambiguous at this point, and could honestly go either way. But Jedadiah is a strapping young lad who works on a farm with his Pa and studies scripture fervently. Not that there is *anything* wrong with such a life. I just think that we're looking for something a little..different. Perhaps I could call it Eric. If ever an inanimate object summoned demons, it was assuredly a computer.
See, I should have just told the telly story. Much safer. :)
Monday, May 04, 2009
Happy Birthday to my Mom!
Today was my mom's birthday. I won't say her age, because that is only up to her to divulge, but I will say that she's every bit as lovely as she's ever been.
She's very silly, very creative, wildly thoughtful, and has never met a stranger. She can talk to anyone, about anything, anywhere. It used to kind of embarrass me when I was a kid (sorry mom!), but now I realise what a gift it is--and how rare it is for people to express such a talent, even if they have it. On a related note, she makes friends so easily, a talent of which I'm very envious--but also that I'm thankful she has. She has moved around with my dad and I so many times--and now she's out in the boonies of Missouri, far away from family and old friends. But since moving there, she's made a whole new batch of amazing friends. They have parties for each other and have their own little adventures; she has a better social life than I do at this point, honestly! It's always fun to hear what she's been up to, whether it be a garage sale excursion, or a neighbourhood fish fry.
She's creative and talented--a fiendish knitter and a connoisseur of all things crafty. She has made me beautiful afghans, gorgeous little hand towels, fun funky boho-bags, and she once fashioned the most amazing angel out of embroidery floss, lace, and beads (it currently serves as our Christmas Tree-Topper). She loves learning new things, and like me, always has some sort of project going.
She's also a great cook and, for better or for worse, I have inherited her willingness to improvise and/or "make do" with the ingredients at hand. This doesn't always turn out as well for me as it does for her, but it does make for some interesting kitchen adventures (I think R might have another name for the results of *my* concoctions!).
I could go on. And on... and on...but it's already past my bedtime. Suffice it to say that my mom ROCKS! Happy Birthday Mom. I LOVE YOU!! <3!!1one!11!1!!1!!!
She's very silly, very creative, wildly thoughtful, and has never met a stranger. She can talk to anyone, about anything, anywhere. It used to kind of embarrass me when I was a kid (sorry mom!), but now I realise what a gift it is--and how rare it is for people to express such a talent, even if they have it. On a related note, she makes friends so easily, a talent of which I'm very envious--but also that I'm thankful she has. She has moved around with my dad and I so many times--and now she's out in the boonies of Missouri, far away from family and old friends. But since moving there, she's made a whole new batch of amazing friends. They have parties for each other and have their own little adventures; she has a better social life than I do at this point, honestly! It's always fun to hear what she's been up to, whether it be a garage sale excursion, or a neighbourhood fish fry.
She's creative and talented--a fiendish knitter and a connoisseur of all things crafty. She has made me beautiful afghans, gorgeous little hand towels, fun funky boho-bags, and she once fashioned the most amazing angel out of embroidery floss, lace, and beads (it currently serves as our Christmas Tree-Topper). She loves learning new things, and like me, always has some sort of project going.
She's also a great cook and, for better or for worse, I have inherited her willingness to improvise and/or "make do" with the ingredients at hand. This doesn't always turn out as well for me as it does for her, but it does make for some interesting kitchen adventures (I think R might have another name for the results of *my* concoctions!).
I could go on. And on... and on...but it's already past my bedtime. Suffice it to say that my mom ROCKS! Happy Birthday Mom. I LOVE YOU!! <3!!1one!11!1!!1!!!
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Accessories and Accoutrements!
I went to REI today, because I had a 20% coupon burning a hole in my hot little hand. I've been needing both new running shoes (I use the term lightly, because what I generally do amounts to little more than speed walking with the dogs--with the occasional 1/2 block jog thrown in for good measure), and wanted to check into some new bike shorts. The place was packed to the gills--apparently outdoorsy folk are *not* feeling the pinch these days--and I quickly gave up on any real attempts at trying on clothing.
But I looked around a LOT and found some amazingly adorable small purses/mini messenger bags that I think might look *fantastic* wrapped around my little eeePC (which, incidentally, I've decided needs a name. Taking all suggestions, but reserve the right to poo poo any and all comers). I was going to post links, but once I got to looking on their site, I got far too distracted and just blew another 30 minutes poking around and window shopping. Suffice it to say: I now have an added reason to head back to REI soon (as if I ever really needed one), since I will have to take my 'puter with me to try on some bags.
And there is a tent I'm eyeing, and while I'm at it, I could use a new sleeping bag. Because, you know, I go camping *so* frequently... The fubar'd logic here is that I'll be more apt to go if I actually have the gear. I'd be better suited, I think, to invest in some friends who would drag me out of the house from time to time to go on such adventures.
But I digress. Toys for my toy. I still intend to post some of my favourite skin options for your review, but I always manage to be too tired to mess with it by the time I get here. And all my bookmarks are waaaaaaay over there on that computer. So I'd have to spend even more time looking them up again. But I need to dress this baby up. Black is always in, but basic black 'puter is basic. We need some pizazz! Skinz and Bags, Skinz and Bags. And then when she's all dressed up, I'll take her photo for your viewing pleasure. Because doesn't everyone just *long* to see a pimped out netbook? Geeks like me say "Yes!" <3
But I looked around a LOT and found some amazingly adorable small purses/mini messenger bags that I think might look *fantastic* wrapped around my little eeePC (which, incidentally, I've decided needs a name. Taking all suggestions, but reserve the right to poo poo any and all comers). I was going to post links, but once I got to looking on their site, I got far too distracted and just blew another 30 minutes poking around and window shopping. Suffice it to say: I now have an added reason to head back to REI soon (as if I ever really needed one), since I will have to take my 'puter with me to try on some bags.
And there is a tent I'm eyeing, and while I'm at it, I could use a new sleeping bag. Because, you know, I go camping *so* frequently... The fubar'd logic here is that I'll be more apt to go if I actually have the gear. I'd be better suited, I think, to invest in some friends who would drag me out of the house from time to time to go on such adventures.
But I digress. Toys for my toy. I still intend to post some of my favourite skin options for your review, but I always manage to be too tired to mess with it by the time I get here. And all my bookmarks are waaaaaaay over there on that computer. So I'd have to spend even more time looking them up again. But I need to dress this baby up. Black is always in, but basic black 'puter is basic. We need some pizazz! Skinz and Bags, Skinz and Bags. And then when she's all dressed up, I'll take her photo for your viewing pleasure. Because doesn't everyone just *long* to see a pimped out netbook? Geeks like me say "Yes!" <3
Friday, May 01, 2009
A Sure Sign
Movies will rot your brain!
Every time I hear another report about the Swine Flu (Pending) Pandemic, I fully expect to hear a tinge of panic in the announcer's voice as she explains that there have been significant mutations in the virus which are causing horrific reactions in the afflicted parties. The main reaction, of course, being Zombieism.
Then again, having watched those movies, I am now well versed in Zombie Avoidance and Methods of Zombie Annihilation. So....yeah.
Every time I hear another report about the Swine Flu (Pending) Pandemic, I fully expect to hear a tinge of panic in the announcer's voice as she explains that there have been significant mutations in the virus which are causing horrific reactions in the afflicted parties. The main reaction, of course, being Zombieism.
Then again, having watched those movies, I am now well versed in Zombie Avoidance and Methods of Zombie Annihilation. So....yeah.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Murphy Knew His, um...Stuff
I don't believe I've mentioned it here, but I recently paid off my Xterra. (**EDIT: Wow, I just mentioned it two posts ago. But I've slept since then...) It's very exciting, to have that portion of my (relatively minimal) debt taken care of. I should, in fact, have the title in my hot little hands sometime this week. What a nice birthday present to myself!
Now, the flip side of that was knowing that as soon as I had paid it off, something else would come up. It always does. Every time I've ever paid off a credit card, car payment, or otherwise gotten something truly daunting out of my hair and/or off of my plate, something else ugly has reared its head--preventing me from every *truly* getting ahead myself.
This time, I naturally assumed it was going to be the Xterra itself. It is, after all, nearly 10 years old. It's in remarkably good shape for its age, and the Xterra--despite having a super slick new look in recent model years--has something of a timeless style. However, as we all know, time is cruel, and I'm just waiting for the ball to drop.
I really hope it doesn't soon. Because the ugly spectre with the raised and howling head this time is the telly. Our behemoth died a very sudden death sometime between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. When R tried to turn it on yesterday, it was just dead. No flickering lights, no warning signals that failure was immenent. Just a black, blank screen and a whole lot of "WTF"??
Personally, I think all of the MMA fighting and mafia violence of the recently resurrected Sopranos disc set finally did it in. :D That, or all the butter and sugar in Paula Deen's cookin has soaked in. Whatever the case, we find ourselves without a tv. It doesn't trouble me too much, as I rarely watch it aside from the occasional bout of CNN Headline News while I get ready in the morning, or the aforementioned Paula Deen (along with Giada/Ina Garten/Rachel Ray during the "dinner hour"). Oh, and Thursday night NBC. Love.
Anyway. I digress. We are going to have to get a new tv, because now that I can't play with the Wii, I want to desperately even though I haven't touched it in ages. I LONG to finish watching The Tudors discs that we got from Netflix something like 4 months ago (or longer)! It's amazing, isn't it, how you always want what you can't have?
Hopefully, after we deal with the annoyance of finding someone to pick up and haul off the old telly, and setting up the new one, there will be a few months of monetary peace where I can put some of the "extra" money towards our remaining credit card bills. Until then, I suppose I should just thank Murphy that his laws had the good graces to at least wait to kill the telly until *after* my car was paid off.
Thanks, Murphy, thanks a lot. ;)
Now, the flip side of that was knowing that as soon as I had paid it off, something else would come up. It always does. Every time I've ever paid off a credit card, car payment, or otherwise gotten something truly daunting out of my hair and/or off of my plate, something else ugly has reared its head--preventing me from every *truly* getting ahead myself.
This time, I naturally assumed it was going to be the Xterra itself. It is, after all, nearly 10 years old. It's in remarkably good shape for its age, and the Xterra--despite having a super slick new look in recent model years--has something of a timeless style. However, as we all know, time is cruel, and I'm just waiting for the ball to drop.
I really hope it doesn't soon. Because the ugly spectre with the raised and howling head this time is the telly. Our behemoth died a very sudden death sometime between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. When R tried to turn it on yesterday, it was just dead. No flickering lights, no warning signals that failure was immenent. Just a black, blank screen and a whole lot of "WTF"??
Personally, I think all of the MMA fighting and mafia violence of the recently resurrected Sopranos disc set finally did it in. :D That, or all the butter and sugar in Paula Deen's cookin has soaked in. Whatever the case, we find ourselves without a tv. It doesn't trouble me too much, as I rarely watch it aside from the occasional bout of CNN Headline News while I get ready in the morning, or the aforementioned Paula Deen (along with Giada/Ina Garten/Rachel Ray during the "dinner hour"). Oh, and Thursday night NBC. Love.
Anyway. I digress. We are going to have to get a new tv, because now that I can't play with the Wii, I want to desperately even though I haven't touched it in ages. I LONG to finish watching The Tudors discs that we got from Netflix something like 4 months ago (or longer)! It's amazing, isn't it, how you always want what you can't have?
Hopefully, after we deal with the annoyance of finding someone to pick up and haul off the old telly, and setting up the new one, there will be a few months of monetary peace where I can put some of the "extra" money towards our remaining credit card bills. Until then, I suppose I should just thank Murphy that his laws had the good graces to at least wait to kill the telly until *after* my car was paid off.
Thanks, Murphy, thanks a lot. ;)
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Canooks!
I have recently been raving (to R and to my best friend and...well, that's about it, since I've got no one else to crow to) about the glory of Radio Paradise. And I DO love Radio Paradise. It is a constant joy to listen to, and the peacelovinhippiechick in me revels in the primarily happy mellow world folk rock thing they've got goin on.
But earlier this week at work I stumbled onto CBC Radio 3, and DAMN if it isn't the perfectly sexy bad boy to lure me away from my tried and true. It's pretty much all new, totally unfamiliar, dirty rockin stuff--with the occasional sweetly french pop tune thrown in for good measure. Granted, I only catch glimpses while I'm at work, and I'm dialed in right now as I write, but what I've heard I love.
I've gone a long time without discovering and appreciating new music, and for anyone who knows me, that's saying a lot. Music used to be pretty much the be-all end-all for me (have I used that phrase recently? typing it out gave me an annoying sense of deja-vu). So it's really nice to rediscover that aspect of myself. I don't think I'll ever find myself going to concerts 4-5 nights a week again, and it's unlikely that my cd collection (mp3 file collection these days, I suppose) will grow as exponentially as it did when I was working at the record store, but it's enough for me that I'm hearing some stuff that makes me pause and look up the artist name and make a note to check it out later.
In other "new stuff" news...I got my hair cut today. Woohoo. It's not really anything different, so don't go begging for photos or anything. I basically don't look like I'm wearing a pile of straw on my head anymore.
In "I can't decide which new stuff to get news", I cannot decide which skin shall adorn my new lil puter. So when I have more energy for it, I'm going to post some options here and ask for a vote of sorts. Which, I guess, basically means that Shanny will be the one who decides, as no one else ever says so much as "Boo!". :P
And, with that, good night. It's nearing midnight and the heat comes earlier and earlier these days... If I want to breathe fresh air tomorrow, I'd better get some sleep!
But earlier this week at work I stumbled onto CBC Radio 3, and DAMN if it isn't the perfectly sexy bad boy to lure me away from my tried and true. It's pretty much all new, totally unfamiliar, dirty rockin stuff--with the occasional sweetly french pop tune thrown in for good measure. Granted, I only catch glimpses while I'm at work, and I'm dialed in right now as I write, but what I've heard I love.
I've gone a long time without discovering and appreciating new music, and for anyone who knows me, that's saying a lot. Music used to be pretty much the be-all end-all for me (have I used that phrase recently? typing it out gave me an annoying sense of deja-vu). So it's really nice to rediscover that aspect of myself. I don't think I'll ever find myself going to concerts 4-5 nights a week again, and it's unlikely that my cd collection (mp3 file collection these days, I suppose) will grow as exponentially as it did when I was working at the record store, but it's enough for me that I'm hearing some stuff that makes me pause and look up the artist name and make a note to check it out later.
In other "new stuff" news...I got my hair cut today. Woohoo. It's not really anything different, so don't go begging for photos or anything. I basically don't look like I'm wearing a pile of straw on my head anymore.
In "I can't decide which new stuff to get news", I cannot decide which skin shall adorn my new lil puter. So when I have more energy for it, I'm going to post some options here and ask for a vote of sorts. Which, I guess, basically means that Shanny will be the one who decides, as no one else ever says so much as "Boo!". :P
And, with that, good night. It's nearing midnight and the heat comes earlier and earlier these days... If I want to breathe fresh air tomorrow, I'd better get some sleep!
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