Chavez Snowman
Originally uploaded by ultrakickgirl
merry belated Christmas everyone
Monday, December 28, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Octopi!
But on endless mud seafloor, where are you fleeing to? In other words, a coconut-carrying octopus may be slow, but it’s always got somewhere to hide.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Crazy things
Sometimes i do things that i think are crazy things.
I have a stacked washer/dryer in the kitchen. Two things have bugged me about it since i moved in: the dryer vent was poorly connected to the outside and it never seemed level so it shook while operating. So i decided to remedy these issues.
I had no idea what i was getting into when i started. Three hours later i had learned several things. The only way to get a proper look at the legs of a stackable unit is to lay it down or pick it up. I laid it down, being unable to pick it up. I learned that the legs on the rear of the unit are supposed to move in opposition to each other and sometimes one gets stuck. Kicking them alternately works to get 'em moving again. I learned that the best time to connect the vent ducting to the outside is when the damn unit is out of the way. Most importantly i learned that i can lay down and pick up a stackable unit with a minimum of heavy breathing, while concentrating on using my legs.
Now it is pretty damn level and free from rocking.
Yay.
I have a stacked washer/dryer in the kitchen. Two things have bugged me about it since i moved in: the dryer vent was poorly connected to the outside and it never seemed level so it shook while operating. So i decided to remedy these issues.
I had no idea what i was getting into when i started. Three hours later i had learned several things. The only way to get a proper look at the legs of a stackable unit is to lay it down or pick it up. I laid it down, being unable to pick it up. I learned that the legs on the rear of the unit are supposed to move in opposition to each other and sometimes one gets stuck. Kicking them alternately works to get 'em moving again. I learned that the best time to connect the vent ducting to the outside is when the damn unit is out of the way. Most importantly i learned that i can lay down and pick up a stackable unit with a minimum of heavy breathing, while concentrating on using my legs.
Now it is pretty damn level and free from rocking.
Yay.
Monday, December 7, 2009
some new scribbles
3 of them
Originally uploaded by colin flynn
I put up some of the stuff I have been drawing as of late.
Check it out.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Florence + The Machine
Okay.....
Sometimes I fall in love with dumb and total poppy mainstream music.
This is one of those occasions to a "T".
I saw her mentioned on Footytube (soccer highlight website) of all places.
She is like Enya/Tori Amos/and the tinniest dash of Bjork.
I can't get enough.
http://www.myspace.com/florenceandthemachine
Sometimes I fall in love with dumb and total poppy mainstream music.
This is one of those occasions to a "T".
I saw her mentioned on Footytube (soccer highlight website) of all places.
She is like Enya/Tori Amos/and the tinniest dash of Bjork.
I can't get enough.
http://www.myspace.com/florenceandthemachine
Friday, December 4, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Hold Still - Manuok Video
My brother just got back from another tour in Italy. His band, Manuok, and a great italian band, Grimoon, toured from Venice down to Sicily and back. I managed to catch up with them for a couple of shows up north and in Rome. It was super fun!
Anyhow, he put together this swell little video:
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Hey strangers
Just wanted to reach out and give a virtual high-5 to everyone: a digital "whasssssappenin?" to the peeps. Houston is absorbing me, and on days like today when i leave without the phone, it's shocking how unattached to everyone I've been.
On top of that, they restricted Facebook at work, so no more instant updates on every thought that passes the ever-loosening filter of acceptable public announcements. And no more online chatting about whatever whenever. I want to say I miss technology, but really I miss hanging out with friends. The technology is nice but a poor surrogate.
I miss getting drunk with my friends. I guess it's indicative of my upbringing, but it's true: no big family gathering was complete without it.
While reading this article about the evils of capitalism, it occurred to me that he was right about something: that we have sometimes (most of the time) very little choice in the basic structure of our lives--in regard to the 8, 8, 8 idea. Work, Sleep, Play. That's more or less it. Some work more, sleep less, whatever. But it remains basically unchanged for the vast majority of us, and it makes the play part of it all the more important. This is undoubtedly one of those insights we've all had before but it's times like this that its significance resurfaces.
So I hope we get to hang out soon.
On top of that, they restricted Facebook at work, so no more instant updates on every thought that passes the ever-loosening filter of acceptable public announcements. And no more online chatting about whatever whenever. I want to say I miss technology, but really I miss hanging out with friends. The technology is nice but a poor surrogate.
I miss getting drunk with my friends. I guess it's indicative of my upbringing, but it's true: no big family gathering was complete without it.
While reading this article about the evils of capitalism, it occurred to me that he was right about something: that we have sometimes (most of the time) very little choice in the basic structure of our lives--in regard to the 8, 8, 8 idea. Work, Sleep, Play. That's more or less it. Some work more, sleep less, whatever. But it remains basically unchanged for the vast majority of us, and it makes the play part of it all the more important. This is undoubtedly one of those insights we've all had before but it's times like this that its significance resurfaces.
So I hope we get to hang out soon.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Ben Kenobi
Ben Kenobi
Originally uploaded by ultrakickgirl
made this in five hours - the light saber was the deciding factor in making this costume it seems - I'd already invested in the red pleather which was to be Astroboy's boots, but it was the fascination with the light saber that made Adolfo's heart yearn to wield the force on Halloween night. Halloween is no longer mine at this age, so I submitted and found a new use for an old curtain. I'm glad I didn't force him to be what I'd already planned for him. He had the best time. You can't see it here, but I used scraps to make knee high boots for this outfit. I'm pretty proud of the outcome.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Well, they work.
So, i have a guilty pleasure: Totino's® Party Pizzas.
so delicious, so bad for me.
I also have a to-do list as long as my arm, one item of which is, 'check the smoke detectors.'
This evening, those things came together beautifully.
there are many places to buy things in Austin, specifically things of the grocery persuasion. Generally i purchase those types of things at H.E.B., a wonderful store which i sorely missed when i did not live in Austin. However, sometimes i shop at FreshPlus, because it is close to where i work/live. My aforementioned guilty pleasure is satisfied at the Hyde Park Fresh Plus where the freezer aisle is the first thing one encounters when following the optimum store flow.
So I bought one the last time i was there, and decided to cook and eat it this evening. I am about to eat it right now, as a matter of fact.
The best way to cook a Totinos® Party Pizza is directly on the oven rack, and the detritus of past said party pizzas often falls down into the oven. Future cooking thereof creates smoke, lots of smoke, which, this evening, set off the smoke detectors which i have been meaning to check.
So, now i have a delicious dinner, *and* the piece of mind that accompanies knowing that your smoke detectors work.
i call that a win, win.
so delicious, so bad for me.
I also have a to-do list as long as my arm, one item of which is, 'check the smoke detectors.'
This evening, those things came together beautifully.
there are many places to buy things in Austin, specifically things of the grocery persuasion. Generally i purchase those types of things at H.E.B., a wonderful store which i sorely missed when i did not live in Austin. However, sometimes i shop at FreshPlus, because it is close to where i work/live. My aforementioned guilty pleasure is satisfied at the Hyde Park Fresh Plus where the freezer aisle is the first thing one encounters when following the optimum store flow.
So I bought one the last time i was there, and decided to cook and eat it this evening. I am about to eat it right now, as a matter of fact.
The best way to cook a Totinos® Party Pizza is directly on the oven rack, and the detritus of past said party pizzas often falls down into the oven. Future cooking thereof creates smoke, lots of smoke, which, this evening, set off the smoke detectors which i have been meaning to check.
So, now i have a delicious dinner, *and* the piece of mind that accompanies knowing that your smoke detectors work.
i call that a win, win.
Monday, October 26, 2009
cough syrup cracker sandwich
Well, we had gone camping and Laura had a cold at the time....so being thrifty we took along a bit of cough syrup...don't remember why but at the time it seemed like a good idea to pour a little into a container.
Fast forward a week after we got back.....I am in my office and Chella comes into my room with a very strange look on her face.
"Dad, can you come to the kitchen?" she asks. We go in there and I see that she has been making herself a snack.
With that confused look on her face, she says, "Dad, that jelly tastes really funny."
Poor little girl had made herself a peanut butter and cough syrup crackers.
Lesson learned.
my lesson.
Fast forward a week after we got back.....I am in my office and Chella comes into my room with a very strange look on her face.
"Dad, can you come to the kitchen?" she asks. We go in there and I see that she has been making herself a snack.
With that confused look on her face, she says, "Dad, that jelly tastes really funny."
Poor little girl had made herself a peanut butter and cough syrup crackers.
Lesson learned.
my lesson.
Theo Chavez comes home
Our first day with Theo was wonderful. His tail is wagging most of the time, he's comfortable on the couch and his pillow bed and he's already housebroken. He loves to cuddle and will howel with you when you sing.
He did a lot of exploring his first day and tired himself out pretty good. Last night, he slept all night in his pillow bed. We are looking forward to the coming weeks as he settles in, gets a little more comfortable with his surroundings, and comes to realize he's part of our family.
He did a lot of exploring his first day and tired himself out pretty good. Last night, he slept all night in his pillow bed. We are looking forward to the coming weeks as he settles in, gets a little more comfortable with his surroundings, and comes to realize he's part of our family.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Please, let me have some cupcakes...
Please, let me have some cupcakes...
Originally uploaded by ultrakickgirl
Paóla dressed as Max from Where the Wild Things Are. I have to add the toes and the gloves first and then the thing is completely finished. I am so excited about it and am particularly proud of the whiskers I added. I accomplished the foot part by using some fluffy white house slippers I got at WalMart for 5.00 and sewing the legs onto them. I really wanted to make the buttonholes and everything at the front of the jumpsuit, but conceded to using velcro to close at the back. The buttons are there for show. I am also proud of the tail. I found the right fake fur at Joann's after they got a new fur shipment in. YESS!
Adolfo will be Astroboy for Halloween. I played with the idea of making him Moishe (Carol) from the movie, but he wasn't "thrilled" with the thought. He will be thrilled about Astroboy though. And I think the costume will be fairly easy to make and am excited about building the boots with foam and satin. Cannot WAIT!
Anyway, this is this.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
7:22
Seven twenty two is a neat time. On a digital clock it sort of looks like a swan, or some other large water fowl. I noticed how neat it looked one morning (while declining to *officially* wake up ) and have noticed it since.
I have seen those digits twice today; once AM, once PM. They look nice at both Ms.
To the best of my knowledge this blog began in 1999. Blogger/Google has seen fit to remove four years worth of posts and the most recent data they have begins in 2003; a post which derides our friend Adolph. That bothers me.
I believe i will try to to track down the vanished posts and re-instate this blog using a WordPress install at http://starebox.com/.
Do no evil, my ass.
Well, 'evil' is a strong word. Maybe they should have said 'Commit no petty annoyances that irk the technically minded and chronically vexed', although you can't please those people.
Regardless, i have spent most of my day building an ad-site for a new Austin hipster playground. Soon i will move on to building a site dedicated to saving whoopers, or proclaiming the co-op lifestyle.
Either way, some things (such as the URL) may change, but i am trying to preservve our history.
In other news : my AC is out and it is going to be a warm night (80+º) in Austin.
How long is 'relevant' relevant?
[update]
I may have been wrong, and have unfairly maligned los Googler/Blogger. I still have not found the first post, undoubtedly a 'Hello world', style affair, but i did find this gem, beauteous as it is.
The Wayback Machine found a pretty wonderful Flash animation which was holding the site down back in the day. Interestingly enough, the first post TWBM could produce is this one, describing an event of which i have no clear memory. It may be the case, i say again, that i am being unfair to teh Googler/Blogger.
Total tangent, but when i attempted to access the Wikipedia article linked to the word 'teh' above *with* a trailing slash it barfed. Pet peeve.
Love me some trailing slashes.
I have seen those digits twice today; once AM, once PM. They look nice at both Ms.
To the best of my knowledge this blog began in 1999. Blogger/Google has seen fit to remove four years worth of posts and the most recent data they have begins in 2003; a post which derides our friend Adolph. That bothers me.
I believe i will try to to track down the vanished posts and re-instate this blog using a WordPress install at http://starebox.com/.
Do no evil, my ass.
Well, 'evil' is a strong word. Maybe they should have said 'Commit no petty annoyances that irk the technically minded and chronically vexed', although you can't please those people.
Regardless, i have spent most of my day building an ad-site for a new Austin hipster playground. Soon i will move on to building a site dedicated to saving whoopers, or proclaiming the co-op lifestyle.
Either way, some things (such as the URL) may change, but i am trying to preservve our history.
In other news : my AC is out and it is going to be a warm night (80+º) in Austin.
How long is 'relevant' relevant?
[update]
I may have been wrong, and have unfairly maligned los Googler/Blogger. I still have not found the first post, undoubtedly a 'Hello world', style affair, but i did find this gem, beauteous as it is.
The Wayback Machine found a pretty wonderful Flash animation which was holding the site down back in the day. Interestingly enough, the first post TWBM could produce is this one, describing an event of which i have no clear memory. It may be the case, i say again, that i am being unfair to teh Googler/Blogger.
Total tangent, but when i attempted to access the Wikipedia article linked to the word 'teh' above *with* a trailing slash it barfed. Pet peeve.
Love me some trailing slashes.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Rescued Dog
This is 'puppy'. He had been wandering around the house for the last few days. I noticed him in the front yard this past wednesday and asked him (politely) to please not poop in my yard. He gave me a brief, deep bark and turned away. He looked mostly well kept, didn't necessarily look like a stray - but then again, i don't know much about dogs. I figured he had just gotten away from someone for a bit and didn't think of it again.
He showed up in my backyard the next day. I went outside and said, "Excuse me," and pointed towards the missing board in my fence. He looked up at me, turned and carefully stepped over the bottom 2x4 and exited peacefully. He was too careful and i at this point i realized he was injured and most likely a stray. I didn't see him for a couple of days. It rained. It got chilly.
Saturday was a wonderfully productive day for me. I mowed the grass, i cleaned out the garage, i finally attempted to sweep the multitude of water oak acorns from my driveway. Overwhelmed, i decided to vacuum them instead. I used my shop vac to vacuum my yard. I don't think i'll ever rake again.
Then, standing in my yard was puppy. "Hey puppy. Where have you been?" He stood there. I put out my hand and he came carefully to me sniffed and licked my hand. He had been traumatized by someone, mostly likely a male. When Carol came out he went to Carol without hesitation. We got some dog food from a dog owner across the street which he ate quickly. The fresh water carol left out was lapped up just as quickly. As he ate, it was only then i realized he was skinnier than he should have been.
I didn't know what to do at this point. I didn't want to take him to the SPCA or the Humane Society. I didn't want him to be put down. I called my boss, a known dog rescuer, who just so happened to be shopping in the Heights. She came over 10 minutes later. She got out of her car and sat down on the sidewalk. Puppy came right to her. J put a leash on him which he accepted quickly and began to point things out:
You can tell by his skin he's been out for awhile.
He's been scrounging
He's paws are sore
He's arthritic
He looks like a Daschund / Basset Hound mix, it looks like.
Jeanne lifted him into her car with her doggy lift (a little velcro belt with a handle on it) and drove him home where, apparently, he slept most of the day. He is going to the vet this morning for an evaluation.
I hope these are not his last days. He was adorable.
He showed up in my backyard the next day. I went outside and said, "Excuse me," and pointed towards the missing board in my fence. He looked up at me, turned and carefully stepped over the bottom 2x4 and exited peacefully. He was too careful and i at this point i realized he was injured and most likely a stray. I didn't see him for a couple of days. It rained. It got chilly.
Saturday was a wonderfully productive day for me. I mowed the grass, i cleaned out the garage, i finally attempted to sweep the multitude of water oak acorns from my driveway. Overwhelmed, i decided to vacuum them instead. I used my shop vac to vacuum my yard. I don't think i'll ever rake again.
Then, standing in my yard was puppy. "Hey puppy. Where have you been?" He stood there. I put out my hand and he came carefully to me sniffed and licked my hand. He had been traumatized by someone, mostly likely a male. When Carol came out he went to Carol without hesitation. We got some dog food from a dog owner across the street which he ate quickly. The fresh water carol left out was lapped up just as quickly. As he ate, it was only then i realized he was skinnier than he should have been.
I didn't know what to do at this point. I didn't want to take him to the SPCA or the Humane Society. I didn't want him to be put down. I called my boss, a known dog rescuer, who just so happened to be shopping in the Heights. She came over 10 minutes later. She got out of her car and sat down on the sidewalk. Puppy came right to her. J put a leash on him which he accepted quickly and began to point things out:
You can tell by his skin he's been out for awhile.
He's been scrounging
He's paws are sore
He's arthritic
He looks like a Daschund / Basset Hound mix, it looks like.
Jeanne lifted him into her car with her doggy lift (a little velcro belt with a handle on it) and drove him home where, apparently, he slept most of the day. He is going to the vet this morning for an evaluation.
I hope these are not his last days. He was adorable.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Tool-usin'
Despite being one of the most routine automotive 'repairs' there is a simple pleasure in changing the battery in the Bronco, my poor, beleaguered baby.
It's everything good about car repair (making the damn thing work again) and none of the bad (in my case: bleeding, generally copiously).
After carefully ensuring that i had removed all tools/packaging/doilies/general detritus from the engine compartment i smartly took position in the driver's seat. Confident of my auto-repair prowess i deftly inserted the key and started the ailing vehicle. Despite the 287,000+ miles on it the engine *roared* to vibrant life, revived by the fancy, new (ninety dollar!) battery and the sweat of my brow. Pleased by the outcome i exited the cabin, crisply closed the hood, and proudly said, 'ta-da!' to the world at large, and to the cat who watched most of the interesting procedure in particular.
Easiest problem i fixed all day.
(to the careful reader : i have recently been informed that adjectives/adverbs are the new black so i have used them to full advantage)
It's everything good about car repair (making the damn thing work again) and none of the bad (in my case: bleeding, generally copiously).
After carefully ensuring that i had removed all tools/packaging/doilies/general detritus from the engine compartment i smartly took position in the driver's seat. Confident of my auto-repair prowess i deftly inserted the key and started the ailing vehicle. Despite the 287,000+ miles on it the engine *roared* to vibrant life, revived by the fancy, new (ninety dollar!) battery and the sweat of my brow. Pleased by the outcome i exited the cabin, crisply closed the hood, and proudly said, 'ta-da!' to the world at large, and to the cat who watched most of the interesting procedure in particular.
Easiest problem i fixed all day.
(to the careful reader : i have recently been informed that adjectives/adverbs are the new black so i have used them to full advantage)
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Questions
Is it weird, that, now that i am 'older', i stalk the places i used to live using Google Maps?
It makes me wonder how many people can just walk down the road to see those places, or how many people desperately want to forget/avoid where they used to live.
I think, when i am once again able to take vacations, that i would like to visit Portsmouth, NH. After that, back to Lakenheath.
It makes me wonder how many people can just walk down the road to see those places, or how many people desperately want to forget/avoid where they used to live.
I think, when i am once again able to take vacations, that i would like to visit Portsmouth, NH. After that, back to Lakenheath.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Happy Happy Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday Adolph!
I made this just for you!
I know it's ugly, but I made it...for you!
love
Chavezes
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
ok so
I've been using Pandora a WHOLE lot to listen to Verve Remix 2 and I love what Pandora puts out there for me - i have also been watching a lot of disney movies - i saw Julie and Julia with Liz and was pretty happy with the flick - must have been Liz's hormones working on me, but I found myself teary eyed a couple of times, even during some of the more obviously hollywood created "moments". I was quite pleased with Meryl Streep's portrayal of Julia. What I liked the most was the whole story, just the story of Julie and what she was doing...made me stop and think about my turning 40 next year - WOW
Saturday, August 8, 2009
What Are Y'all Watching?
I catch an episode of Spaced when I need to unwind. It is my kind of funny!
I also have a series BBC drama habit, but I don’t want to elaborate on that in public.
What are y’all watching?
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
What We Listening To?
I am late to this party but Ratatat Remixes Vol. 2 is what I have rattling up and down around my ears:
Also, Neko Case’s “Middle Cyclone” and Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea”
What y’all listening to?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Iron Carol
Carol and I have gotten into the habit of preparing the weeks meals (dinners and take-to-work lunches) on Sunday. Today, after a stunning grocery shopping trip to Fiesta on Wirt Rd, we came away with a new ingredient - Kale.
I know nothing about Kale other than it's a lettuce, it's a little more bitter (some say tastier) and it's supposedly more substantial than Romaine, nutrition-wise. If anyone has any Kale stories, suggestions, or cautions ...
Carol has unleashed herself upon the kitchen and created three stunning recipes for the week - think Iron Chef. I only saw her run to the computer for recipe assistance once. This, of course, doesn't surprise any of you. Carol on more than one occasion has whipped up something before your eyes for nearly all of those of you who read this blog. For me, it's still just as magical an event as when she was whippping up breakfasts and brunches for us on Burleson.
I know nothing about Kale other than it's a lettuce, it's a little more bitter (some say tastier) and it's supposedly more substantial than Romaine, nutrition-wise. If anyone has any Kale stories, suggestions, or cautions ...
Carol has unleashed herself upon the kitchen and created three stunning recipes for the week - think Iron Chef. I only saw her run to the computer for recipe assistance once. This, of course, doesn't surprise any of you. Carol on more than one occasion has whipped up something before your eyes for nearly all of those of you who read this blog. For me, it's still just as magical an event as when she was whippping up breakfasts and brunches for us on Burleson.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
A Day at Work with Daddy
Today i took some photos with the new 3GS and i must say - i'm stunned at the quality. Stunned. Visit this pic in flickr and observe that the original size is 2048x1536. I certainly wasn't expecting this when i bought it.
Otherwise, things are going pretty well around the Chavez household. Adolfo is awesome, Paola is amazing, Carol is pumped and Daddy is, well ... just being as daddy as he can be.
Otherwise, things are going pretty well around the Chavez household. Adolfo is awesome, Paola is amazing, Carol is pumped and Daddy is, well ... just being as daddy as he can be.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Jilted Hasbro CEO Laughs Coldly As Scrabble Destroys Another Relationship
Scrabble will do them all a tremendous favor, you see, for love is but a murderous labyrinth of fire, a thorn-lined path I was once fool enough to tread myself,” Hassenfeld said as he gazed at the image in a shattered picture frame resting on his desk. “But I soon learned, as all fools must, that, in the game of romance, we will all of us be forever a few letters short of spelling H-A-P-P-I-N-E-S-S.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Egypt
View from the top floor of my parents Apt tower in Maudi, Cairo.
Part of the city built where they dump all the trash.
Us at the tip of the Sinai Penensula, Red Sea
Temple of Karnak, Luxor.
Petra was unbelievable.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Calling all Todds!
Hey Todd,
I posted a photo of you and a bunch of the guys on Facebook, and a friend of mine named Charity Davis recognized you ... She said you knew each other in high school? What a coincidence! Anyway, just thought I would reach out and let you know that ... If you want me to send her your email address, I will ... but you will have to give it to me again 'cuz I can't seem to find it anywhere. OR ... you could get on Facebook ... now that would be cool!
I posted a photo of you and a bunch of the guys on Facebook, and a friend of mine named Charity Davis recognized you ... She said you knew each other in high school? What a coincidence! Anyway, just thought I would reach out and let you know that ... If you want me to send her your email address, I will ... but you will have to give it to me again 'cuz I can't seem to find it anywhere. OR ... you could get on Facebook ... now that would be cool!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Greetings from Egypt
Howdy all....the whole of the Foster-Flynn crew is in Egypt.
Forgot my camera transfer cable so pics will have to wait.
In Cairo right now...tomorrow we head to Jordan to see Petra....very excited about this.
More later.
C
Forgot my camera transfer cable so pics will have to wait.
In Cairo right now...tomorrow we head to Jordan to see Petra....very excited about this.
More later.
C
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
As I Have Been So Often Over the Last Week and a Half
I imagined that i would be able to blog about our driving adventure while it was happening, but the truth is that so much is happening every single second of the day. Today i took a day trip to NYC with my niece, Erika Torres (Isabel's daughter) who spontaneously decided to hop in the car with us: i was forced to give up the pump in NJ; accidentally ended up in Newark rather than Jersey City; took the Path from NWK to the World Trade Center; took the subway to Times Square; ate a street vendor hot dog; bought some M&Ms; walked to Columbia circle; played chess in Central Park; walked along Central Park West/South; went into the Apple Store ...
and these are only the 'big' things ... today ... i've left out the quick visit to Lake Erie, the attack of the Canadian Soldiers, visiting Claire Jones in Cleveland, talking with a Jersey trucker, meeting up with Bertie and Ethan Glading ... etc ..
So many stories to tell .. and we're not even out of the NorthEast yet.
and these are only the 'big' things ... today ... i've left out the quick visit to Lake Erie, the attack of the Canadian Soldiers, visiting Claire Jones in Cleveland, talking with a Jersey trucker, meeting up with Bertie and Ethan Glading ... etc ..
So many stories to tell .. and we're not even out of the NorthEast yet.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Tired
man, this crap is wearing me out.
I cannot imagine the chronic pain of a true laborer: miner, ditch-digger, what have you, but i am getting a little insight. It is no wonder that Oxycodone is a hot property.
I know that some of you faithful blog readers have *real* headaches, but imagine having one of the lighter-weight ones in your shoulder.
For three weeks.
It is not awful, but it *is* relentless.
I am getting better, a little bit every day, but it still hurts, and i am a wuss.
Sorry for bitching, but the amiable mocking i usually get from this peanut gallery frequently makes things better.
I cannot imagine the chronic pain of a true laborer: miner, ditch-digger, what have you, but i am getting a little insight. It is no wonder that Oxycodone is a hot property.
I know that some of you faithful blog readers have *real* headaches, but imagine having one of the lighter-weight ones in your shoulder.
For three weeks.
It is not awful, but it *is* relentless.
I am getting better, a little bit every day, but it still hurts, and i am a wuss.
Sorry for bitching, but the amiable mocking i usually get from this peanut gallery frequently makes things better.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Breafkast Taco Fail
One of the more difficult changes to adjust to out here in D.C. is the lack of breakfast tacos. It is a serious quality of life issue for which I don’t think that I am being adequately compensated.
But suffering from a total lack of breakfast tacos anywhere is preferable to what happened to me this morning when I rolled into Dunkin Donuts and noticed the monstrosity below…
)
I think that it is called a “Breakfast Wrap”. I should credit folks, I suppose, with at least struggling to grasp the idea of a breakfast taco. The positive part of my mind hopes that this beastly breakfast wrap is just an evolutionary step, and that in 20 or 30 years someone with a tortilla and some salsa will bump into somone with some eggs,potatoes,cheese and the happy exclamation “you put your breakfast in my taco! You put your taco around my breakfast!” will be heard.
But the negative part of me suspects that this “Breakfast Wrap” is just the universe fucking with me.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
iDrew
I drew a pretty picture on the bus on my way home today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-LPux4VWYI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-LPux4VWYI
Friday, May 22, 2009
We have the technology
So, i saw a shoulder specialist today and got an anatomy lesson.
the clavicle is like a support beam against which various ligaments pull against. I also learned that i broke mine in two places, each one is attached to important ligaments, so the bulk of my clavicle is floating free, about 1/4 inch out of place.
These types of fractures do not heal well naturally, so i am having surgery Wednesday. That's right, soon i will be bionic. i'll be getting a plate, some screws and wires to put my shoulder back together.
The best part is that i should be out of the sling and able to work again in a week, rather than 4-6 weeks.
more details as typing becomes less painful.
the clavicle is like a support beam against which various ligaments pull against. I also learned that i broke mine in two places, each one is attached to important ligaments, so the bulk of my clavicle is floating free, about 1/4 inch out of place.
These types of fractures do not heal well naturally, so i am having surgery Wednesday. That's right, soon i will be bionic. i'll be getting a plate, some screws and wires to put my shoulder back together.
The best part is that i should be out of the sling and able to work again in a week, rather than 4-6 weeks.
more details as typing becomes less painful.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Clavicle is a funny word...
but a serious bone. I know this because i broke mine yesterday.
How quickly a pleasant game of kickball turns ugly.
Bases are loaded, i'm on third, so i have to run. It's a short kick, and i lose track of it as i take off down the third base line. Not quite sure what happened next, but i was off-balance and going to fall. Rather than go flat down i tried to roll, and did so badly. I came up off the roll, kept moving forward across home and kept walking off the field.
I had forgotten how much getting hurt hurts. I was drenched in sweat, ears ringing and nauseated.
Long story short -> ER, x-ray, diagnosis, meds, shower, bed.
Off to repeat the last three.
How quickly a pleasant game of kickball turns ugly.
Bases are loaded, i'm on third, so i have to run. It's a short kick, and i lose track of it as i take off down the third base line. Not quite sure what happened next, but i was off-balance and going to fall. Rather than go flat down i tried to roll, and did so badly. I came up off the roll, kept moving forward across home and kept walking off the field.
I had forgotten how much getting hurt hurts. I was drenched in sweat, ears ringing and nauseated.
Long story short -> ER, x-ray, diagnosis, meds, shower, bed.
Off to repeat the last three.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
WolframAlpha
This is really amazing. Tomas forwared this--he's out of commission since breaking his foot on the kiddy ramp in PA. Now he's been spending far too much time combing the interweb for entertainment. But this looks like much more than entertainment. No point trying to explain:
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
I've lost touch with almost everyone over the last year or so, but everything's going exceptionally well--despite all viral and economic panicking. I don't pray much, but I do pray for the zombie infestation. One day maybe we will finally make a virus that turns humans into mindless, flesh-eating beasts with no pain receptors. Until then, it's business as usual in Houston. Almost.
This marks the second week at the new job and I couldn't be happier with it. It's a multi-modal clinic called Advanced Diagnostics, just south of the med center. The radiologist is an old, semi-retired Indian guy named Dr. Jingrhan and there's just no way to piss him off outside of misinjecting a patient. The people are helpful and so far i haven't found the "uptight" person, which means it might be me, but at any rate, there's no one breathing down my neck here because I'm the only nuc med tech here!
There's a ton of paperwork to get in order for upcoming state inspections (kinda scary), but it's a small price to pay for these conditions. Still working at St. Luke's in the evenings and have recently upgraded to 3 movies at-a-time from Netflix, so i can watch all the Japanese gangster movies ever made in 1/3rd the time.
That's about it. Except the guts of my muffler blew out onto the entrance ramp of 288 the other day and the bike sounds like an angry beast now.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Holy Crap
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/blaise_aguera_y_arcas_demos_photosynth.html
A talk from TED.....a website and organization I am sure you all are familiar with.....this one is so....Jeeezzzz...
I don't even understand all the possible implications/opportunities/potential.
A talk from TED.....a website and organization I am sure you all are familiar with.....this one is so....Jeeezzzz...
I don't even understand all the possible implications/opportunities/potential.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
How To Be A Successful Evil Overlord
All bumbling conjurers, clumsy squires, no-talent bards, and cowardly thieves in the land will be preemptively put to death. My foes will surely give up and abandon their quest if they have no source of comic relief.
I am falling in love.
This flickr page make me all gushy inside.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The soothing beauty of a made bed.
I never make my bed. I find the rumple of covers/clothes/towels that generally resides atop my mattress pleasant to burrow under and thrash around in when the time for sleep comes. This is a long-time habit, and unlikely to change soon.
However, since May has snuck up and blind-sided me, and i find myself with 58% or so of my stuff in boxes, or staged, ready to box in my living room, no lease signed and 4 days or so to find somewhere to (a) sleep and bathe and (b) put my stuff i find i can fully appreciate the island of crisp, calm serenity and declaration of control that is a neatly made bed.
Similar to my long-time refusal to make my bed i have had a habit of believing that i have accomplished the things i think about for too long. Having now thought about where i want to live next for entirely too long, i guess i figured i had already sorted it out, and am scrambling. In an odd way it is kind of fun. If push comes to shove i have a friend i can crash with for two weeks or so, and a line on a room (think B&B) i can finagle for two more. I know i can rent a pickup for $20 a day, so i can start ferrying my meager possessions to either a storage facility or a new apartment.
There are two viable options, one available immediately (the responsible choice, but lacking something) and one slightly later (quirky, but not everything i am looking for). So, i squirm on the horns of dilemma: settle and take the 'right now' place, or hold out for something better.
Whatever happens i am enjoying the scramble as it takes me a bit out of myself, a thing sorely needed.
I hope all readers of this periodic blog are well, happy, and know where they are gonna put their stuff.
However, since May has snuck up and blind-sided me, and i find myself with 58% or so of my stuff in boxes, or staged, ready to box in my living room, no lease signed and 4 days or so to find somewhere to (a) sleep and bathe and (b) put my stuff i find i can fully appreciate the island of crisp, calm serenity and declaration of control that is a neatly made bed.
Similar to my long-time refusal to make my bed i have had a habit of believing that i have accomplished the things i think about for too long. Having now thought about where i want to live next for entirely too long, i guess i figured i had already sorted it out, and am scrambling. In an odd way it is kind of fun. If push comes to shove i have a friend i can crash with for two weeks or so, and a line on a room (think B&B) i can finagle for two more. I know i can rent a pickup for $20 a day, so i can start ferrying my meager possessions to either a storage facility or a new apartment.
There are two viable options, one available immediately (the responsible choice, but lacking something) and one slightly later (quirky, but not everything i am looking for). So, i squirm on the horns of dilemma: settle and take the 'right now' place, or hold out for something better.
Whatever happens i am enjoying the scramble as it takes me a bit out of myself, a thing sorely needed.
I hope all readers of this periodic blog are well, happy, and know where they are gonna put their stuff.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Hannah's birthday rap
Here is how cool my daughter is.
She made a rap video for her friend Sunshine's birthday.
She made a rap video for her friend Sunshine's birthday.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Great Work By The SerpAndCo
Got a nice report from the Todd yesterday about one of the projects he put together over at Milkshake. He and his company were tasked with developing a video contest web-site for the National Cooperative Grocers Association; the idea was to ask the community to submit videos that communicate “the top 10 reasons that you love your food co-op”.
Plenty of videos were submitted and lots of votes were tallied. Todd forwarded his favorite clip to me. It is pretty clever!
I just love this sort of thing. When the project was first explained to me, I thought: how many folks are going to take the time to make a video about their favorite co-op? Well, it turns out that hundreds of folks will. And the results are pretty great! Hooray for technology!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Ronaldo's Amazing 40 Yard Goal
When I have the ball and I look up and see that I am 40 yards from the goal I think “Man, I will be really tired if run all the way over there.”
Ronaldo thinks: “I’ll have a go”
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
April Fool's!
OK
So we get a phone call.
Killy and I are in the kitchen finishing our conversation about our upcoming Sooper Dooper Family Fun Time Vacation Extravaganza, a two week long excursion trecking across several of our great United States to culminate at the 50th Wedding Anniversary of my little old folks - that's right - FIFTY YEARS of marital bliss (and madness, if you read between the lines).
Then the phone rings, faintly, from another room, the sound reaching it's delicate tendrils almost as if from a dream or another world.
It's kind of a surprise in that Killy and I never, and I mean never, get a phone call at this hour.
So Killy rushes to get the phone in a furious come-back-to-reality-from-a-state-of-disbelief motion and blurts out a general greeting, "Hello?"
He emerges from the bathroom a few seconds later with a happy, gleeful grin wrapped around his face. He holds the phone out to me and announces, "It's for you, an April Fool's call, from Discover."
I'm game.
So I take the phone and say, "Hello?" with a half-expectant smile in my voice.
I spend the first thirty seconds listening intently to a young but gruff voice speaking in a rapid and kind of slurred pace. Killy has walked away for a minute but comes back to find me still sitting there, with a crazed open faced smile frozen on my lips. His expectation dissolves into confusion and he gesticulates for clarification.
I have yet to identify the voice, so I say to this person, "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"
The voice is raspy and thick, like phlegm is bubbling about in the back of the throat, but he repeats, word for word, his lines.
Killy now asks aloud, "Who is it?"
I pull the phone away from my ear and reply audibly, "It's Discover card trying to sell me something."
Putting the phone back to my ear, I listen to the voice for a few seconds and make out only three words distinctly, "...to you Miss CarolEYEnah?"
I attempt to hide my confusion with a simple reply, "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"
By now, Killy is explaining to me that he thought the phone call was a prank by someone I knew, perhaps my brother...?
I have not identified the voice and am only half convinced that this is a real Discover Card telemarketing call, so when the voice concludes with his, "Does this sound OK to you Miss CarolEYEnah?", I am amused, and ask, "I'm sorry, could you please repeat that?"
The third time is the charm it seems, the voice reads the script to me again, this time more deliberately and with exaggerated enunciation repeating an offer made in case I am unable to make the minimum payment and yadda yadda yadda...
Now I am certain I don't recognize the voice, although for a few tense seconds, when Killy was apologetically justifying his mistaken April Fool's theory, I did believe it was Colin's voice on the line. I had ruled out Todd's voice by this time because it is very much like Killy's in tone, but distinctive in it's inflection and it most certainly was not my brother's voice.
So I started to pay closer attention to the voice realizing I could unwittingly sign myself up for something if I wasn't careful.
So when the voice used the words, "Does this sound OK to you Miss CarolEYEnah?"
My response was deliberate, "I am not interested."
The voice was quick, "I am not asking for you to be interested, I am..." and back to the pitch.
This was not going to be easy.
I waited for a breathe pause and inserted, "I am so sorry you called me on April Fool's, I thought this was a joke and that is the only reason I listened to you, I am not interested, thank you."
Again, the voice is persistent, "Discover Card does not joke around Miss CarolEYEnah. I am offering you the opportunity to..." and slides back into the pitch concluding with the "Does this sound OK to you Miss CarolEYEnah?"
I have now identified the key words, sound OK, and make a mental note to NOT USE THE WORD OK in this conversation.
I say, "No."
The voice, "I am not trying to sell you something, I am offering you the opportunity to look over..."
(opportunity, another key word)
Me, "I do not want the opportunity."
The voice, "You are being offered an opportunity to review..."
Me, "I do not want the opportunity, I am not interested."
The voice, "This is just a chance to look at..."
Me, "I do not want the chance, nor the opportunity."
The voice, "...review the possibility that you are unable to make your monthly payments..."
Me, "No."
The voice, "This is an opportunity only, you are not obligated to buy any..."
Me, "Nope."
The voice, "This is a courtesy call offering you the..."
Me, "No, nope, nope, no."
The voice, "Thank you very much ma'am...click...................."
This is the first time I have ever been hung up on by a telemarketer.
It was the best joke ever.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
so it happened
ok so i didn't even do what i said i was going to do - although i did sweat a little
we came home and the kids needed to get OUT of the house - so i shooed them into the back yard where my eye befell upon the crumpled corner flower bed - still damaged from the trampling of our most recent hurricane back in september - so - still in skirt and silky work shirt, i proceeded to pull and yank out the weeds and the grass tendrils that threatened to choke out the three surviving flowers that my father had planted years ago as well as my beloved big blue bush - i handed the kids some shovels and said "dig" which they did merrily and laughed and giggled and fought and cried and then laughed some more while doing it - then killy came home - and i think he was happily surprised to find his little family out in the setting sun and not plugged into any electronic hypnotonic devices - his son greeted him with the confession of an honest boy who is sincerely conflicted with reflexive behaviors versus socially acceptable actions while his little girl beamed in glee at the sight of her handsome daddy donned in work attire and eager for action - killy announced, "i'm making hamburgers!" and i was pleased because i was really getting things done in my little corner patch - i ran inside to change into jeans and get some garden gloves and continued the work and actually managed to make the corner look rather nice by the time the hamburgers were ready for the eating! my son kissed my perspiring forehead and was grossed out exclaiming "eew, you taste like worms in dr pepper juice!"
we settled around the dinner table and adolfo ate like he'd never eaten before and we chatted about how salads are a good choice for lunch as my son revealed that out of the two choices given at lunch time he selected a salad as his main lunching meal because he was feeling "a little weak" and announced that the reason for his choice was the inherent qualities of protein contained therein - we commended him on making a wise choice for lunch and enjoyed watching him chow down the last bits of hamburger while delicately paola enjoyed her burger open faced, dry, scraping the cheese off with her teeth (kind of like how i eat oreo cookies) while chewing on wayward bits of lettuce - for desert the children enjoyed some yummy peaches
afterwards we ran to the store and stocked up on frozen waffles and milk (which was a CHEAP 1.99 a gallon) and stuck them in our DEEP FREEZE that bob bought us
that's right
bob is on a diet - and the free range beef he'd raised is now in our freezer ready to feed my little family and saving us a ton of money to boot
life is good
i have no complaints
my husband is now serenading me with his guitar and i will rub his shoulders and neck and face until he dozes off and i hope he sleeps comfortably because my life is good and it can't be otherwise when i have such wonderful people around me
mush
i didn't exercise though
and for the record, my perfect multiplication table reciting genius son didn't have homework because he finished all of his homework for the week on monday evening..
YEAH
THINGS I wish i had time to do
so tonight i wish i could
instead
i am going home to
that's it...
- make lasagna
- read a book
- exercise HARD CORE
- draw and paint
- write a letter
- make papier-mâché easter eggs with the kids
- clean the fridge
- shop for clothes
- build a cardboard castle with the kids
- have a bubble bath
- bake cookies
- drink wine
- relax with my husband
instead
i am going home to
- make Picadillo (that's mexican shepherd's pie to you ohio-ans)
- check the homework
- exercise quickly...
- bathe the kids
that's it...
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Rough Life
Rough Life
Originally uploaded by colin flynn
Hey everyone.
Todd...thanks for the big post the other day...it's always fun to hear how much of a coward you are. It was inspiring. hence this post.
Carol.....I am trying to watch that Indian cartoon....something "Sings The Blues." It is cooler then I expected at first. and I am only 4 minutes into it.
Here is another.....sigh......post of my drawings.
As most of you know I have been drawing for a bit.
I have been fortunate enough to be a part of a sketchbook exchange.
This is the most drawing I have done in years.
I am making a big deal about it because I feel it is really good.
It is rare that I actually give myself the opportunity to see what I can do."
I debate often about how much of myself...my creative self...to use.
Usually having to do with work.
I have become quite miserly of late.
It feels good to stretch those muscles.
I miss hearing y'all complain about the mundane.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
dog fight
I saw a horrible thing today, and if you are of a delicate disposition i warn you against reading this post. I am only writing about it in an attempt to get it out of my head, though i am doubtful this will work.
During my lunch break, i went to Which-wich, a chain sandwich shop in The Triangle, a weird live/shop island near Hyde Park. The Triangle has an open area which is used as an off-leash dog park by nice people and irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastards.
A nice lady with a dog, an Australian shepherd of some sort, i guess, was throwing a ball for her dog. 20-30 pounds of fluffy, ball-chasing happiness. We will call him Fluffy.
A little way away an irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard and his wife/girlfriend were playing with their dogs, one of which was a 'dog-fighting dog' probably a bull terrier of some sort, but i do not really know my breeds. We'll call him Spike. His owner is still 'irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard.' Spike is 70+ pounds of black, white and teeth.
Fluffy somehow attracted Spike's attention, despite being separated by a good 20 yards (it's a big park). Spike charged Fluffy and attacked.
After a brief, one-sided 'fight' Spike had his jaws clamped around Fluffy's throat. Not being dramatic, not mistaking neck for throat. I mean throat. 5-10 seconds, max. Fluffy's owner is screaming and hitting Spike with a leash, irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard is ignorant.
Fluffy is now yelping and struggling for his life. Spike has a death-grip on his throat and is shaking Fluffy back and forth. Irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard and his w/g figure out what is going on and spend the next five to ten minutes trying to keep their dangerous dog from killing Fluffy. They grab him, pull his tail, shout, and are generally incapable of making the dog let go. Finally, Spike lets go and Fluffy runs away, seeking comfort from his owner, who scoops him up and tries to get away. Irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard's w/g makes nice sounds at her. I do not know how Fluffy's owner did not smack the shit out of her.
Spike's face is covered in Fluffy's blood.
Irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard (and his bitch-ass w/g) actually have three dogs, Spike, an older Schnauzer (Boss) and a puppy Schnauzer (we'll call him Pup). Pup had run off near me, and, while the drama unfolded, I had picked him up, and was attempting to comfort/contain him. At some point irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard called out 'please get that little dog', referring to Pup, and i did. Pup was terrified and a puppy, so he did not know what to do. He seemed to like being held, so I held him.
After the horror show irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard, every inch the smug fucking polite bastard, called out, 'thanks for getting my dog.' I put him down and tried to shoo him back towards irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard.
Pup, no dummy, wanted nothing to do with that asshole, and scampered off again. I picked him up again, and carried him over to Boss, an un-dangerous, well-behaved dog. Irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard was 'very nice' saying 'sorry' and 'thanks' and other disingenuous bullshit.
As loud as i could i shouted 'you should not be apologizing to me, fucker.' He seemed confused, and oozed hurt 'what did *i* do?'-ness out of every pore of his irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard being. He kept yelling, 'thanks!' as if confused that my lack of response was discorteous. Irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard.
I wanted to do to him exactly what his dog did to Fluffy. I wanted to punch him until i puked. He had no idea that he was an irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard and i wanted to tell him, to let him know.
I feel like a coward for not leaping to help Fluffy. I was awash in adrenaline, and, so felt bullet-proof and nauseated. In the end i just felt disappointed that i did nothing, was too scared to help a threatened animal. He was so scared and i didn't help.
I know i would have been hurt, I know Spike was more than a match for me , but that's no excuse. i should have helped. i should have done something.
I'm so upset and angry. I should have beat irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard into a bloody pulp and told him why he was wrong, i should have done SOMETHING.
what did i do? i held and comforted a puppy. i'm a fucking hero.
I don't blame Spike. What happened is not his fault. He is of a breed that has been created from dogs that have a tendency to kill other dogs. People (like irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard) bitch and moan that certain breeds are 'misunderstood.' They are perfectly understood, they are just not blamed. Their owners, who clearly do *not* understand the breed are to blame. They don't get the raw power they 'own' and can't control. They don't get that their dog, who is 'great with kids' is a dog-killing machine bred by other irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastards.
i'm a fucking coward.
During my lunch break, i went to Which-wich, a chain sandwich shop in The Triangle, a weird live/shop island near Hyde Park. The Triangle has an open area which is used as an off-leash dog park by nice people and irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastards.
A nice lady with a dog, an Australian shepherd of some sort, i guess, was throwing a ball for her dog. 20-30 pounds of fluffy, ball-chasing happiness. We will call him Fluffy.
A little way away an irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard and his wife/girlfriend were playing with their dogs, one of which was a 'dog-fighting dog' probably a bull terrier of some sort, but i do not really know my breeds. We'll call him Spike. His owner is still 'irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard.' Spike is 70+ pounds of black, white and teeth.
Fluffy somehow attracted Spike's attention, despite being separated by a good 20 yards (it's a big park). Spike charged Fluffy and attacked.
After a brief, one-sided 'fight' Spike had his jaws clamped around Fluffy's throat. Not being dramatic, not mistaking neck for throat. I mean throat. 5-10 seconds, max. Fluffy's owner is screaming and hitting Spike with a leash, irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard is ignorant.
Fluffy is now yelping and struggling for his life. Spike has a death-grip on his throat and is shaking Fluffy back and forth. Irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard and his w/g figure out what is going on and spend the next five to ten minutes trying to keep their dangerous dog from killing Fluffy. They grab him, pull his tail, shout, and are generally incapable of making the dog let go. Finally, Spike lets go and Fluffy runs away, seeking comfort from his owner, who scoops him up and tries to get away. Irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard's w/g makes nice sounds at her. I do not know how Fluffy's owner did not smack the shit out of her.
Spike's face is covered in Fluffy's blood.
Irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard (and his bitch-ass w/g) actually have three dogs, Spike, an older Schnauzer (Boss) and a puppy Schnauzer (we'll call him Pup). Pup had run off near me, and, while the drama unfolded, I had picked him up, and was attempting to comfort/contain him. At some point irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard called out 'please get that little dog', referring to Pup, and i did. Pup was terrified and a puppy, so he did not know what to do. He seemed to like being held, so I held him.
After the horror show irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard, every inch the smug fucking polite bastard, called out, 'thanks for getting my dog.' I put him down and tried to shoo him back towards irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard.
Pup, no dummy, wanted nothing to do with that asshole, and scampered off again. I picked him up again, and carried him over to Boss, an un-dangerous, well-behaved dog. Irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard was 'very nice' saying 'sorry' and 'thanks' and other disingenuous bullshit.
As loud as i could i shouted 'you should not be apologizing to me, fucker.' He seemed confused, and oozed hurt 'what did *i* do?'-ness out of every pore of his irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard being. He kept yelling, 'thanks!' as if confused that my lack of response was discorteous. Irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard.
I wanted to do to him exactly what his dog did to Fluffy. I wanted to punch him until i puked. He had no idea that he was an irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard and i wanted to tell him, to let him know.
I feel like a coward for not leaping to help Fluffy. I was awash in adrenaline, and, so felt bullet-proof and nauseated. In the end i just felt disappointed that i did nothing, was too scared to help a threatened animal. He was so scared and i didn't help.
I know i would have been hurt, I know Spike was more than a match for me , but that's no excuse. i should have helped. i should have done something.
I'm so upset and angry. I should have beat irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard into a bloody pulp and told him why he was wrong, i should have done SOMETHING.
what did i do? i held and comforted a puppy. i'm a fucking hero.
I don't blame Spike. What happened is not his fault. He is of a breed that has been created from dogs that have a tendency to kill other dogs. People (like irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastard) bitch and moan that certain breeds are 'misunderstood.' They are perfectly understood, they are just not blamed. Their owners, who clearly do *not* understand the breed are to blame. They don't get the raw power they 'own' and can't control. They don't get that their dog, who is 'great with kids' is a dog-killing machine bred by other irresponsible fucking jack-ass bastards.
i'm a fucking coward.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
i like me some meat on them bones
i like me some meat on them bones
Originally uploaded by ultrakickgirl
paola eats turkey bones - she won't eat food - she usually likes to chew the flavor out of the food and then spit out everything she just chewed - but now i see she likes to gnaw on the bones - haha - it's the mercado in her
Monday, March 2, 2009
Moved To D.C.!
I have been deployed to Washington D.C.! This is what it looks like out my front door!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
)
Friday, February 27, 2009
M. Ward
Lately....I have been desiring music that is....less powered by sugar and teen angst.... something that revels itself more and more on repeat listenings.
Check out the songs on his myspace
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=26682004
Check out the songs on his myspace
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009
family love
family love
Originally uploaded by ultrakickgirl
sorry i haven't posted anything lately - my tone is probably a little morose right now because even though things are good for me - i'm caught up in the doldrum that is my life - which is what i've been thinking about lately - the doldrum of life - what does your doldrum consist of and do you know what mine is?
i know most of you have an inkling of what my life is made up of - i have a good job but still have a hard time waking up cheerful about it because its so hard to leave my kids - maybe i whine about it more than i should - but geeze - i can see them slipping away so fast
can you believe paola insists on dressing herself all by herself now...and she's still not potty trained (unfortunately) and she likes ham and cheese sandwiches and ice cream and telling on her brother
pssh
and adolfo - what can i say about him - except that the kid is amazing in every way - and so misunderstood - i am not surprised to learn from school that adolfo's test scores are way WAY above average - ms p sat there at the table and pulled out the papers then drew a chart, her eyebrows raised to the ceiling in sincere disbelief - she'd never seen such high numbers in all her years - but, he's lazy, like me and now he's disregarding the teachers and refusing to do the work - the challenge is, how do we fix this? and then there is his sleepwalking and love of books - these instances are followed by full days of frantic web searches on the subject of sleepwalking and evening discussions about whether or not we should put locks on the doors above reach - just in case we don't hear him get out of bed at night - throughout is the consideration of offering him the right subject matter in books and movies for his level of maturity, for his level of understanding
there are other things to think about - when do we buy paola her big girl bed - and then we need to budget for the paint job in the bedrooms - they need a color that is less stimulating to their senses - yes - both of their rooms - why - because paola is exhibiting certain behaviors that we recognize - i clutter my head then with questions that are maybe not necessary...are these learned behaviors from observing her brother? are they thought out with a specific end in mind? or are these true concerns...and that's JUST the beginning of my future brow furrows
of course all of this with the hope that one day i will stay home - which is scary too - but THAT i choose not to think about too much because it is REALLY scary - what if i screw everything up...
i love my life - we have a cute house and i help a friend out who needs a job and she helps me wake up on Sunday to a clean house - we are very blessed and very lucky and we do things together and plan together and celebrate small accomplishments together - we like dinner at jenni's because the kids like the sticky noodles on the menu and adolfo likes to sit on the tall stool and eat at the bar against the window so he could look out at the passing cars on shepherd - he turns around every once in a while with his beautiful smile to blow a kiss in our direction - paola just wants to drink the limeade - but she eyeballs daddy's food and wants to eat IT too while reaching into my plate with her little insect fingers to get whatever she can grab to stuff into her crumb filled mouth
but how could there be so much love in our world - and how can we accomodate it and share it - i wish it was as easy as in past days/years - but it's not - i don't know about you but we have found it getting harder and harder to get together with friends - everyone's schedule is just as busy and everyone is living their lives at a new, unique and different pace - and the question is asked - what has happened to the time? - once there was an abundance of it - and now it seems to have been reduced to 2 hours every day and 2 days every week - the reality of time is now accompanied by the measure of what is most important
occasionally my boss asks me to scan photos and make a 4' X 4' collage out of them – he wants several prints for reunions he has once a year with his friends - it is really cool to look through these images - they meet at a lodge in colorado once a year and take the same group shot under the same stuffed deer head in the same position at the same time each year - it's around father's day - there are 4 couples - through the years, one couple was divorced and the second spouse started appearing – the same smiles, expanding waistlines and different hairdos - i smile when i notice the wrinkles have been smoothened and the hair colors have changed - over 20 years worth...
time flies by so fast that you miss it if you blink - i see it passing in my children's faces when the dimple that was there yesterday has left no more than a shadow - and i see it in the half formed thoughts and the few experiences i try to share with you every now and then – these are like a bone that's been mostly chewed and only a few bits of meat remain for the tasting - yeah, it was savory, here have some – it’s only a taste and not enough for full enjoyment
so - rather than offering you just the bone today - i thought i'd give you the rack o ribs
it's tasty - i promise - i hope you enjoy it because i made it myself and i took my time
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Moleskin Sketchbook X-change
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I got invited to be a part of a moleskin x-change with 6 others. It was all organized through Flickr and is now up and running.
The first round of exchanges has happened and it is getting interesting.
If interested you can watch the progress here.
http://moleskinex61.blogspot.com/
We should do this with the chair jockey crew. Anyone interested?
Could be a complete mixed media thing...photo/drawing/collage...whatever
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Auto-save for Macs
http://drawn.ca/2009/01/28/automatically-save-your-work-on-your-mac-on-any-application/
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sign o' the times
I was listening to NPR this morning because I only have a tape deck and no IPod and I am not fond of morning DJs in the least, and I heard THIS LOVELY LITTLE STORY that made me aware of how many general standards have evolved and how much technology has changed. It made me remember a time of letter writing, versus email and chat and caused me to laugh at faxed versions of spam and long for my sister's first cell phone, yeah, the box from the 80s. Anyway, so now I know that when I visit New York, I will be buying tickets to the Broadway production of Michael Jackson's Thriller, the Musical.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Age Of Empires FTW
I caught this funny post on one of our blogs
The link to wololo really cracked me up
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
That Dapper Spanish Playboy
)
I always suspected that Taggart had a secret identity....but was never sure.....
Darned if this photo of some new "vigilante" from south-of-the-border doesn't bare a striking resemblance.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
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