VICTORY IS MINE!!!!!!!!!!

I vowed to get the back yard completely and totally cut, this weekend, even if it killed me.

It took nearly 2 hours, one gas fill up and about 20 bag empties, but it's done. At last. Had to keep going over and over it till it was finally gone. Brian came out applauding and saying, "We're not worthy!"

It only took almost 3 months.
Just in time for the rain tomorrow.

Epic Win.

So Pretty!

I was headed upstairs the one late afternoon and this was what I saw in the big window over the door! The pleated shade was down and the sun was shining through the stained glass piece hanging behind the shade.

I ran to get my camera because I knew the sun would move off the window quickly.

Have a great weekend!

American Capitalism at it's Finest

President Obama was in Seattle on Primary Election Day (Tuesday, August 17, 2010), stumping for Senator Patty Murray. Security was extremely tight, highways and roads were closed for the motorcade, air space was restricted, and all flights were grounded till Air Force One left the area.

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Unfortunately, some yahoo pilot failed to check in with the FAA bulletins and didn't realize there was a no-fly zone in effect for the Seattle Metro area, so he flew his float plane back to Seattle, from Lake Chelan in Eastern Washington, completely unaware that he was about to cause a headline-making event.

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About 1:50 PM, the entire region was rocked by two huge sonic booms, as fighter jets scrambled out of Portland, OR to intercept the float plane. They were on afterburners the entire way, and made the trip from Portland to Seattle in 19 minutes. People from Chehalis to Seattle, including myself, were startled out of their wits to hear these booms out of nowhere, as the fighter jets made their way north, above the I-5 corridor.

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The float plane pilot was met at the Kenmore Air facility on Lake Washington by the Washington State Patrol and Secret Service. Needless to say, his shit is weak. The pilot's license will probably be suspended, since it was a mistake, but could also be revoked because he should have tuned into the FAA's channel for their announcements.

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What killed me is that, less than 4 hours later, these t-shirts were available to commemorate the event:

America. What a country.

Creepy Catalogs

You know the holidays are right around the corner when catalogs start filling your mailbox in August. I enjoy looking at them, and there's a lot of cool stuff out there. Three of my fave catalogs are Wireless, Signals and What On Earth. However, their most recent issues really creeped me out.

For example, I'm sure this is supposed to represent a nostalgic scene of little Tommy admiring his Grandpa's train set, thinking, "Golly! Grandpa promised he'd give me his trains someday!"

However a close up view finds little Tommy demonically looking on, eagerly awaiting the explosive charges he set under the tracks to go off, thus giving grandpa a heart attack and coming into the train set immediately. "This is what a really cool DEAD Grandpa looks like."

Then we have these lovely little Flitter Fairies. They are attached to a super fine, but sturdy, filament wire, and when in motion, they flutter their wings. The wire is attached to a clip that you wear in your hair, so as to give the illusion that the fairies are flittering around your head. The catalog description also says, "Flip the switch on her leg and she'll sleep". Ermm......

But good god look at their eyes!!!! I would run far and fast from a fairy that looked like this, and I certainly don't want her attached to my head, you know? Get it off me, GET IT OFF ME!

Then we have this alarming photoshopped squirrel army who apparently have no arms. What On Earth indeed.

Overkill

I get home on Thursday night and find this rather large box on my couch. I stared at it in disbelief. I said, "Are you kidding me? They shipped it in this?" Brian says, "Yeah I've been wonderin what's in it." I said, "Well wait till you see what's inside. Geez talk about overkill."

I didn't realize that one of my friend's birthday was on August 4. Ever since Facebook changed their Events calendar, I only find out about birthdays after I get home from work, on the day of the event. It used to be set up so you could see at least 3 days' worth of birthdays. Now if I want to see them in advance, I have to remember to click on "See All" every day, so that I know what's coming up. If I had known, my gift to her wouldn't be so tardy. I knew exactly what I wanted to make for her: A necklace in the colours of her fave futbol team. But I had to order the main component directly from the store in Seattle, as I needed it for the pendant.

This teeny, tiny Seattle Sounders FC charm was in that ginormous box. They couldn't have put it in a smaller padded envelope?

Now I know why the shipping was the same price as the merchandise!!!

Frugal

Please ignore the Politically Incorrect child doing her best stereotypical Native American impression, fake tomahawk and all.

My purpose of this particular post is the actual kitchen itself. This was probably taken in the summer of 1969, when I was 4-1/2 years old, and right before I started kindergarten. We're talkin' "Stone Age" here. My cousins who read this will probably laugh, as I do, about the fact that my mom's kitchen has barely changed since this picture was taken. They had to get a new fridge and new dishwasher, and they changed the wall paper in the late 90's. Other than that, the stove, cabinets, table & chair, counter and sink, and the light fixture on the ceiling, are original, and predate this photo (the stove was bought in 1964). My parents were of the mind that, if it ain't broke, don't fix (or remodel) it. Over and above that, my mom has never been able to make a timely decision in her life. She will agonize for years over a wall paper pattern. The hallway stayed in it's slowly cracking sheetrock glory for about 6 years before she finally decided on a pattern. She's the first one to admit that she is very indecisive. And people wonder why I grew up to be impulsive. And also to have white painted walls.

My parents were extremely frugal. Why buy books when there's a library where you can get them for free? Tape the songs off the radio, don't waste money on the album. Rent the video, don't buy it. Coupons coupons coupons. Mom would tally up her grocery savings each week, and then put all the money she'd saved in a mayo jar under the hutch cabinet. They were generous with me because they only had one child, but I was not lavished, indulged and spoiled with all the latest crap that many of my schoolmates had. I may have been an only child, but I was no Nellie Olsen.

But now I understand how they were able to send me to college without burdening me with student loans, and for that I am grateful.

Looky What I Got!!!

My bff/kindred spirit/sister and college roomie, Michelle, sent me a goody box the other day!!! I was so excited!! Thought I'd share the wonderful surprises I found inside!

I got a box of coyote notecards, drawn by Michelle's mom, Judy, who is also a gifted artist.

Here's a cool cross stitch kit that Michelle bailed on, and which I can't wait to get started on! She and I definitely play to our crafting strengths. She works magic with, and has the patience for, seed beads, and I have the patience for cross stitch but not with seed beads. But we both have the same taste in designs, that's for sure! I would have bought this kit on my own if I saw it in a store!

Michelle made these smart new bandanas for Sagie and Bean.

That flower toy is one of Sagan's faves, that's why I gave him the flower bandana. Plus the silly smiling flower pattern matches his goofy personality! "Tanks Auntie Michelle!"

And the dark bandanna also looks good on the Bean, who is, as usual, thrilled to be modeling for a yet another photo. "Tanks fer da bandana but pwease tell momma ta stop takin pitchers!"

I saved the best for last. This is a knitted/beaded butterfly bag that Michelle MADE!!!! Isn't she amazing??? She posted it on Facebook and I begged her to make me one too, and offered to pay for the materials. She offered to give me this. I couldn't believe that she would want to part with it!! I am humbled and honored.

It's perfect.
The strap is meticulous and exquisite!!
A beautiful beaded dragonfly with Swarovski crystal eyes.
And an ant with the tiniest curly antennas I've ever seen!!!!
A wee ladybug!

Lampwork glass snake made by Michelle's friend Cindy! I am equally thrilled to own some of Cindy's work as well!!

And a little lampworked slug, also made by Cindy!
I cherish this amazing piece of art. It is a prized addition to my collection!

Thank you so much Michelle!!!! I love you and miss you lots!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Wordless Wednesday

Annual MASH Homebrew Picnic - Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Marin County - May, 1997

I WANNA ROCK!!!!

A Rock Wood Fired Pizza that is!


This place is the coolest, if you are a fan of good ol' fashioned classic rock like we are!

A good mix of 60's & 70's era music plays in the restaurant, and there's even a speaker outside so you can hear what's playing when you get there. I arrived to pick up our order during Jackson Browne's "Runnin' on Empty".

Even the menus are the size/shape of album covers and are in the designs pictured above the bar (ZZ Top, Styx, Queen, Supertramp, etc).

I love this!
Large group booth seating.

They make their own microbrews and have named them after rock tunes. Brian has a Suicide Blonde Ale tshirt.

There are 11 Rock restaurants in Western Washington, and the Lake Tapps location is closest to us, on the Auburn/Bonney Lake line.

Equipment case storage.

I asked the bartender if I could go into the men's room to take a pic of the urinal. She said sure, just go ahead and knock first. So I knocked, waited, then opened the door and yelled, "GIRL COMING IN TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE URINAL!" No one was in there, so I was free to shoot my pics. I do wish that the urinal cake thing wasn't in the way but I certainly wasn't about to touch it!!

I love the way these flames look on the black stall door!
The gargoyle is chained to keep him from being stolen, but the effect is really cool.

West coast pizza sucks out loud, but The Rock's is awesome. It's the only authentic, east coast style pizza you can get in this area.

HELL YEAH....THAT'S GOOD PIZZA!