live from the Emerald City

The hair is gone

2012-01-21T17:17:00.000-08:00

My World From My Window

2012-01-15T12:55:00.000-08:00

Buster Perched on the Sofa

2012-01-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

Down By the River

2012-01-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

Man, I miss Chris Farley and Phil Hartmann.

New Apartment

2012-01-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

We moved to Redmond back in September and it has been nonstop crazy busy since then. Mostly because of the holidays and our work schedules and learning new routines. We are still not completely unpacked.
We finally got desks this past Saturday and could finally unpack the desk drawer stuff. The desks are awesome! I know I speak for both of us when I say how great it is to have our own spaces. We had previously been splitting the dining room table and it was getting a bit claustrophobic.
The creative juices are really flowing now. C finally has room to pile books and write notes. I no longer have to climb over wires into a corner and it feels great to, after more than 11 years, have my own desk.

New Desks

2012-01-10T21:44:00.000-08:00

View of the porch

2012-01-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

Test

2011-08-29T15:44:00.001-07:00

Testing iPhone.

Tea

2011-07-11T16:45:00.001-07:00

Yummy tree in park

2011-05-24T00:31:00.001-07:00

Untitled

2011-05-24T00:30:00.001-07:00

Apparently the Milk Makes The Coffee

2011-01-30T13:46:00.000-08:00

I'm not a coffee expert, more like an amateur connoisseur. I do know what I like; Latte made from freshly ground Cafe Vita Beans and Hazelnut Milk streamed. I mix and match the different Cafe Vita beans, but the 'milk' remains constant. C likes to add Irish Creme, but he takes his coffee pretty much the same. We have a pretty good system down tight.
Until this morning, when I made the Lattes with Almond Milk. See, the store was out of Hazelnut Milk last night and I thought I would branch out of my comfort zone a bit. Big mistake.
Also, never mess with a man's coffee.
Guess who's going on a search for Hazelnut Milk after work tonight?

Just out my front door, welcoming in the sun. A rare visitor during winters here in Seattle.

2010-12-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

TMI

2010-10-25T20:48:00.001-07:00

What is it about the Internet that encourages over-sharing?
Is it the confess box atmosphere? Not having the face-to-face situation really gives one courage that the phone didn't necessarily give us. The need to connect with another human being at the cost of our privacy speaks to a larger problem and advantage with today.
Affordable computers have brought people easy access to everything from articles on wikipedia for school papers to porn. In between that there is social networks, email, instant messages, and blogs like this, that lull people like me into feeling overconfident in over-sharing, especially in the heat of reconnecting on a whole other level with an old friend. Is this a bad thing? Not really, but then I'm not on the receiving end.
So, what is to be done?
Stop sharing so much? We could try that, but it probably would get boring really fast. Censor ourselves? If we knew how to do that, wouldn't we already be implementing that plan?
Find a best friend?
Whoops, there I go, saying too much again.

Wearing purple for Spirit Day in support of GLBT friends and family

2010-10-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

Taking a walk on a troll.

2010-09-24T17:20:00.001-07:00

Clicking My Heels Together Didn't Work, So I Flew

2010-08-05T21:35:00.000-07:00

I almost didn't go to my 20th High School reunion.
Money was tight, I didn't have any vacation days banked up and my husband wasn't going to be able to go. I had convinced myself I would be okay not going and then decided not to think about how much I might regret that decision. Deep down there was a knot in my stomach that I had to push back every time I thought too long on the subject.
When I told one of my sisters I wasn't coming I knew it was just a matter of time before it got around. My mom called 20 minutes later. She insisted I would regret it, which I didn't deny, and so she wanted to know what I needed in order to change my mind. Money does go a long way.

The actual trip was quick. I spent all of two and a half days in Topeka with two days in KC book-ending the whole vacation. I flew into KC Thursday night, spent it with Becky and Emily in their apartment, then Emily drove me to Topeka Friday morning. Emily drove back to KC because she had to get ready to move the next day. Friday I recovered from the motion-sickness medication I took for the flight, only going to a reunion bar meet-up scheduled for that evening at the last minute. Good thing I did, because I ended up seeing my best friend from 4th grade, Robin Bond, now Lopez, who I haven't seen since moving away a few weeks into 5th grade. Robin married a high school classmate of mine and they were celebrating their 10 year anniversary the next day, so they wouldn't be attending the Saturday night dinner social.

Saturday, while the parentals helped three of my sisters move into their new rental house, I enjoyed some hang-out time with my youngest sister, Allison. We went to a local coffee shop, Classic Bean, then drove to Gage Park and took pictures on quite a few of my favorite childhood play equipment.

Later, after dropping Allison off at her job, I returned to Classic Bean to have a short meet up with my friend, Dave and his wife Laurie, before going home to beautify for that evening's event.

Reunions are weird creatures. While its good to see the people you once upon loved hanging out with, you realize its impossible to truly catch people up on 20 years. You can offer up pictures, glib old one-liners, and three sentence Facebook-like status summaries, but that can't recapture a magical moment you once shared with these people. After a while, the constant catching up with people, all the while trying to talk over loud music in a dark ballroom takes a toll. It was a mixed bag of awkward, surreal, awesome and weird.
Don't get me wrong, I don't regret going. I went to school with a lot of cool, funny, nice people (and a lot of the usual high school crowd people too) who are still cool, funny and nice. I'm not sure how I feel about attending the next high school reunion, but ask me again how I feel when that time rolls around.

Sunday, the parentals, Allison and I drove to KC to celebrate Mom and Sarah's birthdays at the new rental house and I stayed because I was flying out the next day and wanted to spend time with my other sisters.

It was a long day of flying on Monday, followed by a long hard day at work on Tuesday, recovering from a Dramamine hangover, then up early Wednesday to take Chris to the airport for 6 days away at Gen Con. I can't wait to get back to "normal" life, whatever that is.

I did have a fun time with my sisters, as usual. I like seeing how they are all growing and moving in directions I would never of guessed they would, and yet at the same time still laugh at all the same things. I like finding out what favorite memories and activities we still share and how we are all different. I love exchanging new tastes in music, books and TV shows and finding out how much I enjoy the adults my siblings are now.

Return of The Living

2010-08-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

For the longest time I've been too lazy to actually write a blog. There I said it. I compromised by posting pictures that I thought would tell the story enough. But I have learned this past week, that I was wrong. I can admit it, gentle reader(s).
So I want to say I'm sorry and I promise to be better. Like Yoda said, "Do or do not. There is no try." If you know someone who I've lost, please tell them I'm back, baby! Or something less weird.
I'm working on a post about my recent trip back to Topeka for my 20th High School Reunion and another one on my first published work. I want to get back into doing book reviews and do an on-going series about my journey out of Mormonism.
Anything you want to know about me, email or leave a comment and I'll consider a post.

Power Line Focus on the Sun

2010-07-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Meeting Ursula K. Le Guin at Locus Awards Weekend Signing

2010-06-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

My first published work is in this book.

2010-06-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

Signing Party at the Marriott during Locus and Farmer Con

2010-06-25T21:59:00.000-07:00

Check for my first profession publication

2010-06-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday C!

2010-05-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

Another year, another birthday.
We've been through a lot, but the journey wouldn't have been nearly exciting enough if you
weren't such a good conversationalist,

a good writer,

a hard worker,

a good daddy to Buster and Miss Neemers,

and a fun traveling companion.

Happy Birthday baby.

Lost Series Finale Party for Two

2010-05-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

Think I made enough?

GF Pizza @Jules in Doylestown-Yum!

2010-05-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

Strawberries From the Garden

2010-05-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

Sasquatch Sighting in the Woods

2010-05-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

Bare Easel Waiting, Flowers on Dresser

2010-05-18T16:11:00.000-07:00

More of the Coffee Shop

2010-05-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

Back Room at Coffee Shop in Doylestown Where We Hung Out One Day with Cindy

2010-05-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

Just Another Sunny Day on the Farm

2010-05-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

C Perched in His Favorite Tree

2010-05-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

The Famous Lima Bean Soup - Best Soup in the World

2010-05-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

Arrived at the farm. Heating some Lima bean soup.

2010-05-15T19:07:00.000-07:00

Gorilla Bookends

2010-05-10T01:54:00.000-07:00

Buster is People-Watching.

2010-05-09T17:36:00.000-07:00

Buddha on End Table

2010-05-09T17:17:00.001-07:00

Kitty Bookends

2010-05-09T17:14:00.000-07:00

Creepy Doll Head

2010-05-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

Cafe Wall Hanging in Kitchen

2010-05-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

Card-Holding Monkey on Desk

2010-05-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

Lazy Afternoon on the Couch

2010-05-08T17:37:00.001-07:00

Happy Accident Picture of Trees

2010-05-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Accident Picture of Trees Near Apartment.

Sky and Phone Lines in Afternoon

2010-05-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

Sky and phone lines in the afternoon on walk back to work from lunch.

"I Owe It All To You" Bones 100th Episode Promo Video

2010-04-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

Finished Playground in Need of Kids

2010-04-23T15:06:00.000-07:00

Shot with my Hipstamatic for iPhone
Lens: Helga Viking
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: Off

Buster Hangin' Out

2010-04-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

Shot with my Hipstamatic for iPhone
Lens: Helga Viking
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: Cadet Blue Gel

Playground in progress

2010-04-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

Shot with my Hipstamatic for iPhone
Lens: John S
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: Berry Pop

Miss Neemers

2010-04-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

Shot with my Hipstamatic for iPhone
Lens: Helga Viking
Film: Ina's 1969
Flash: Berry Pop

Gluten-Free Root Beer.

2010-04-10T17:30:00.000-07:00

Apparently I've died and gone somewhere that has everything I've been
craving for the past eight years. I hope we don't regret this in the
morning.

Low Budget for Third Movie. Not Even Real Guns.

2010-03-21T01:07:00.000-07:00

Mister Buster Sitting in My Lap

2010-03-19T15:18:00.001-07:00

Proof of My Green. So Don't Pinch Me, M'kay?

2010-03-17T15:14:00.001-07:00

Meeting Joe Hill

2010-03-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

Picture to prove we have sun once in a while in Seattle.

2010-02-20T18:15:00.001-08:00

Sushi on the go

2010-02-06T16:38:00.000-08:00

The Royal Twins

2010-01-24T20:48:00.001-08:00

Gathered together as a family, C and I (not pictured) and the kitties
enjoy a mellow Sunday evening.

2009-11-26T16:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-10-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

Twilight in Mill Creek. Chilly walk home.

2009-09-27T18:21:00.001-07:00

Miss Neemers has a few things on her mind and you better listen!

2009-09-25T20:21:00.001-07:00

Curry is done and now we have a perfect evening of dinner and Bones/
Dollhouse. What better way to celebrate seven years of marriage?

2009-09-24T00:03:00.001-07:00

Newest C and Buster picture.

2009-09-24T00:02:00.001-07:00

The dream is realized. Finally life is more mobile for us, at least in theory. We both are cave dwellers at heart, occasionally venturing out for food, toys and change of scenery once in what seems like a blue moon. The welcomed iPhone has written possibilities over our future. The newest being that I can now blog through an email sent from my iPhone. And I could be anywhere, I just happen to be in bed, but tomorrow I could be outside hanging out. I'd promise I won't drunk blog, but really I shouldn't make promises I couldn't keep. Meanwhile I want to wish Becca a happy birthday. I also look forward to sharing happy news about stuff in both C's life and my friend, dave's. I guess when that is allowed, I will have to get on the new desktop and put up links, pictures and everything fancy.
Sent from my iPhone

2009-09-23T23:45:00.001-07:00

test from iPhone.

Sent from my iPhone

Saturday Jaunt

2009-08-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

C and I get one day off together a week -Saturday - and today we decided to take a car ride south to Redmond. Ten minutes into Redmond and one wrong turn later and the next thing we knew we were driving along the east side of Lake Sammamish and stuck in road construction traffic and stops.
We took the opportunity to talk and share music on our ipods, house-crush on the mansions lakeside and learn to let the road take us where it willed.
We eventually hit Issaquah and then I-90 and took it west to Bellevue and then took 405 North until we hit 520. Along the way we heard a loud shriek like a woman or cat screaming, but only a second or two. As we wondered out-loud what that noise could be, six or eight planes in formation came from the west and curved north then back west. They could only be the Blue Angels.
We took the 520 floating bridge over to I-5 and were greeted with dozens and dozens of boats and ships in Lake Washington. Here is just a sample of what we saw.

Honestly the longest part of the trip was the drive to get to the 520 bridge from Bellevue, due to traffic and the 90 bridge being closed.
We hit I-5 and traveled north to Northgate, where we stopped at the Northgate Mall and visited the newish two-storied Barnes and Noble. We, both being book people, took our sweet time there, but managed to not succumb to impulse. We made a quick stroll through the rest of the mall, (and a pit stop in The Gap for me), then homeward bound.
Not a bad way to spend seven hours.

And we had enough time at the end of the day to dive into books we are reading, me at the end of Deathly Hallows and C hard at work on Evening's Empire by David Herter.

Shameless Promotion of Talented Friend's Video and Website

2009-07-14T15:34:00.000-07:00

Head over to Dave's and check out his submission for the 2009 Wild West Film Fest. As always, it's sure to entertain. You know you want to.

Turning Another Year Older

2009-07-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

Birthdays are weird.
For one whole day you get gifts and well-wishes and attention at work, then things go back to normal. For one day you are reminded that you are getting older and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Sure, you can pause your age at a particular number and pretend to be, say 29, but eventually people can see right through that. My mom for years looked younger than her age, and apparently I inherited that gene. Fortunately so did my husband, but from his parents, not from my mom because that would just be wrong.
Most days I mentally feel ten years younger, but then my body starts calling me back to reality and reminding me that I am so not in my twenties anymore. Do you know how weird that is?

What Now?

2009-07-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been wrapped up in reading. A lot.
In the past two weeks I've read; Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, sequel to The Hunger Games. Coming out in September.
Blood Memory by Greg Iles. Intense.
Finger-Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich. Better than Fourteen, but still can't hold a candle to the first nine books. I grow weary of the Morelli-Ranger dilemma, in this one Stephanie is broken-up with Morelli leading to a lot of sleeping with Ranger, but there was no sex. Plus, there was a lot of food, burps and farts.
23 Hours by David Wellington, the fourth in his Vampire series. I really enjoy this series. He is moving on to do a werewolf series. Ehhh.
Due to inventory at work I had to return Fordlandia without cracking it, but I still want to read it.
Chris got me three books for my birthday, so those are mocking me from my nightstand.
Mom sent me a vegetarian cookbook full of yummy color pictures begging me to dirty up my kitchen.

We spent the fourth trying to sooth the kitties due to booming fireworks outside. We watched Jurassic Park on DVD and tried to stay cool.

The Open Curtain by Brian Evenson

2009-06-15T22:23:00.000-07:00

A wickedly dark horror of a novel about damaged individuals, religion, and what happens when the two are blended together, The Open Curtain takes the reader on a psychological thriller ride. Evenson, a former Mormon and former BYU professor, gets into some meaty subject matter, such as ritual murder, family secrets, Blood Atonement, Mormon history, suicide, and teenage angst.
Brian Evenson is my new favorite horror writer. I devoured The Open Curtain and now look forward to sinking my teeth in his other work. Read a few of his interviews about The Open Curtain here and here.

Columbine by Dave Cullen

2009-06-15T22:20:00.000-07:00

I recently finished reading Dave Cullen's fascinating book, Columbine. A journalist, who has contributed to big-named magazines and blogs, Cullen spent ten years researching, interviewing, and basically devoting his life to the people, events and history surrounding, what is now known by one word, Columbine.
I found this book compelling and easy to read, despite the intense subject matter and almost overwhelming cast of characters. Cullen's ability to swing between events and people, both as the events happened and the aftermath was both shocking (as I'm sure it was meant to be), heartbreaking and vivid, but masterfully crafted.
I felt I really for the first time was able to grasp who and what and, as closely as anyone could explain, why, as well as understand some of the myths and rumors that Cullen was able to debunk.

What happened at Columbine defined a generation of students, a high school, a town, local and national media and how they report news, and quite possibly the next generation of true crime writers and their subjects. It was tragic and senseless.
I know we like to tell ourselves that it could have been prevented, if only someone had made sense of the signs. In hindsight, sure, if someone had had all of the pieces of the puzzle. Of course, no one person did. Hopefully, this will raise the country's awareness to psychopaths and not drive parents, teachers or neighbors to crack down blindly on all teenagers who don't "fit in".

Interested in learning more? Try sites like this one devoted to Columbine or this one by Dr. Robert Hare, who wrote Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us.

Tour of the Topeka Capitol Building

2009-06-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

Dad took us on an unofficial tour of the Capitol Building in Topeka on Monday the 11th.

On the second floor rotunda there are four statues. Here are two:

Meet Amelia Earhart.

President "Ike".

Inside the rotunda looking upward towards the inside dome.

The Chamber of the House of Representatives

The Senate

Looking down at the second floor where a group of singers are performing. There is great acoustics inside the Capitol. They sounded beautiful.

Back stairs, which I recognized from dreams over the years, only now am I placing where my mind picked the image from.

We took an official tour of the very top of the Capitol Building. When the Capitol was built the top was open for anyone who wanted to go up, but after various acts of vandalism and projectile objects thrown down the rotunda, the top was sealed off for until 2006.
Dad sat this one out.

We lost Chris at this floor. Here is Daniel, Allison and me getting the history. Behind our kind and informative tour guide is the inside dome.

Chris taking a picture before fleeing for the floor below.
The inside dome behind him and the final leg of the journey upwards.

This view looks much worse than it actually is, but seeing it sent Chris back down.

The top of the inside dome.

The spiral staircase, about to step outside.

The Kansas Judicial Center from atop the Capitol Building.

The Brown vs. Board of Education Memorial Schoolhouse in the middle of the picture seen from on top.

Topeka High School on the left, Grace Cathedral on the right.

The new Topeka Boulevard Bridge

Allison atop the Capitol Building.

A glimpse of the statue "Ad Astra" on top.

A mysterious little door in the basement tunnel connecting the Capitol Building with the Docking State Office Building.

Back for the First Time

2009-05-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Been back from the trip to Kansas for five days and only now am I getting around to blogging about it.

Granted the first two days were spent sleeping off the Dramamine I took in the KC airport to off-set any unfortunate vomiting incidents I might have on the plane. Thankfully there were none, but as soon as I arrived home I barely had enough time to crawl into bed at 2 in the afternoon and sleep, sprawled out like a drunken sailor after too much fun time shore-leave, until 10 that night. I got up long enough to go grocery shopping (the fridge was scary empty) then I passed out until morning.

Wednesday was pretty much more of the same. I won't bore you with the rest of my boring days, you get the picture.

I don't know what's worse; not taking anything, feeling like I barely escaped with the lunch still in my stomach after a bad roller-coaster ride for a day and a half (like the first part of the trip) or passing out for a day and half, but no fear of hurling (like the aftermath after the trip).

Meanwhile Chris and I survived the gathering of the Wilkes Clan after 8 years of partial gatherings, mostly missing me. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, but we're all ape-shit crazy. Okay, we're not. Mostly.
I am glad that I no longer have to cringe every time I have to admit that "Yes, after almost seven years of marriage it's true that my husband has never met my mother and two of my sisters."

I think the visit went well. We could have stayed another day and gotten more sights in and not felt so rushed.

We got to spend the first night with Emily and Becca. I forced them to watch Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, (Mwhaaaa-hahahaha!) which they barely tolerated being the kind generous hostesses that they are, fed us Chinese food which was awesome and provided their own bedding which was heavenly.

We arrived in Topeka mid-afternoon, rushed through dropping our stuff off and meeting the parentals before having a late lunch with Dave, Laurie and their two boys at Outback. It's not a complete visit home until I get to see my best friend from high school, and have him met my husband. I'm glad they seemed to hit off.

Saturday night we (minus the father) took in a showing of the new Star Trek movie, which we all enjoyed. I don't remember the last time all of us went to see a movie together.

Sunday was picture-taking time and, as per usual, the sibs were in rare form.

I drove Chris around and showed him old houses and apartments I lived in and schools I attended and old haunts I frequented.
Monday Dad, Chris, Daniel, Allison and I took a drive to the Flint Hills, took a tour of the Capital Building and swung by Dad's office in the Docking State Office Building.

Tuesday morning was back in KC getting on a plane and being whisked back to the Emerald City and like that the trip was over.

More pictures to follow, I promise.

My Boys

2009-04-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

Tam Lin by Pamela Dean

2009-04-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

O I forbid you, maidens a'
That wear gowd on your hair
To come or gae by Carterhaugh
For young Tam-lin is there.

I was fresh out of a two-year college when this new book grabbed my attention at my favorite bookstore. I still remember falling instantly in love with the cover and finding the summary on the back cover intriguing enough to plunk hard-earned cash down on the counter.
Hurrying home, I secured a quiet corner and found a kindred soul-mate in protagonist Janet Carter. Set in 1972, the year I was born, Janet is a freshman in college, learning to meet new people, get along with roommates and stumbling her way through a new phase in life-adulthood. Rich with literary and theatrical references, Janet must fight her way through college, growing up, meeting love for the first time and, oh yeah, the faerie world.

This is a modern-day retelling of a classic Scottish ballad. Many authors, musicians and movie studios have tackled the story of Janet and Tam Lin over the years. This book wasn't the first, nor last.

Now, 17 years and three copies later, I still fall lovingly into the world of Janet and Tam Lin like it was the first time. Even after reading it more times than I can remember (over seven), I still find fresh and new insights into the characters and the story. Even after all of the wonderful books I've read over the years, Tam Lin is still in my top ten ultimate favorite books.

Renewal

2009-04-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

I need a new picture header to reflect how beautiful and sunny it suddenly is around here. I love how the sun makes all the pain and sadness go away. Maybe that's a hint that C and I need to move southwardly.
It's cool in the air, reminding me it's still spring, but summer is not far away. I love throwing the windows (all three that open in our apartment) open and enjoying the fresh air and birds singing (as long as it's not too early in the morning) and basking in the wonderfulness of it all. People are friendlier around here when the sun shines, although they easily can verge on downright mean when they rave about the sun as I toil inside a bookstore.
I feel my old haunts calling me: Medina Beach near Bellevue, where I used to read X Files fan fiction on the grass in the sun; Pike's Place Market; my old walking route in Bellevue that included the dining car train tracks; and of course Twin Peaks area in North Bend. I'd like to check out the zoo finally and the paranormal museum in Seattle. Oh the possiblilites!

Reemergence

2009-03-07T22:18:00.000-08:00

The weird thing about writing again after a VEEERRRYY long 'rest' from blogging is the inability to know how to start again. What words to use, what order to put the words in and what I really want to say.

Oh, I wrote volumes of blogs. In my head. Beautifully crafted, emotionally satisfying and Pulitzer-prize-winning beauties of blog entries. But alas every single word exists solely in the scary maze darkly that is my mind.

I want to draw you with razor sharp wit (don't forget a hint of bitter and dry) and fill you with glimpses of high adventures and near misses of danger. Make you cry with envy at the ab fab life I lead with 'the husband' and the higher beings we live with; The Royal Twins. Drop names of the celebrities we 'hang out' with and fancy snobby books we read.

But instead I come slamming back to reality. I have laundry I need to fold. A bathroom that is long overdue to be cleaned. Legs that need to be shaved. A precarious pile of books on my nightstand that are threatening to fall over. Tax forms and bills that have due dates. Cobwebs in dark corners. And on and on.

Don't even get me started on the state of the world.

Here's the thing; we all have to start somewhere. Even if its small steps. Even if we have to keep going back to step one. Even if some things don't get done right away, like the dishes or laundry. You only lose a pound at a time. Sometimes you lose that same pound over and over.

Writing is one word at a time. Sometimes the words make sense. Sometimes they say nothing. Still feels good to write them.

Our 44th President

2009-01-20T15:30:00.000-08:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Read the transcript of President Obama's address here.

I am enjoying this sunny day, despite having to work.

For My Sisters

2008-12-30T15:46:00.001-08:00

I Am Woman- Helen Reddy

Validation

2008-12-27T14:11:00.000-08:00

Starring one of my favorite actors, currently acting on my favorite show, Bones. Enjoy this awesome short film, which will make you smile.

Welcome to my World

2008-12-22T21:26:00.000-08:00

Going back to work after lunch was hard and just a bit cold. Mister Buster watches me trek out into the great white. Sidewalks were not shoveled, roads were not plowed. It's dangerous out there. Too bad there is no way I can get cabin fever living across the street from the grocery store and work.

Snow Day

2008-12-18T22:18:00.001-08:00

We're in the middle of a snow dump on Seattle. It happens here starting in December. The snow will eventually melt and then we'll get some more, until spring comes in May. It's something called winter.
Chris couldn't get down to Bellevue, so he came to work with me half day to get some of his work done and hang out in the cafe. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I live close enough to my job to walk. This is just outside our apartment on the way to work.

Would You Rather?

2008-12-17T23:25:00.000-08:00

Have you ever played the Would You Rather game?
It's a game of choosing between two objects. Sometimes the choice is easy: skydiving or swimming with sharks. Duh, skydiving. Yeah, that's dangerous, but come on! Just the thought of swimming with sharks is nightmare inducing.
Would you rather lose your eye sight or hearing, is a harder question that always catches me speechless. The thought of losing my hearing is hard to comprehend, there is so much I would miss, but the thought of losing my sight is, well, nightmare inducing. I have a fear of the dark. I cannot imagine not being able to see.

So, when I did a quick Google search for sightless people I found a vast array of amazing accomplishments ranging from mountain climber to pilot to painters to triathlete participant to world traveler to Governor.

Inspiring...

Bones Trailer- Double Trouble in the Panhandle

2008-12-17T23:24:00.000-08:00

Books Do a Body Good

2008-12-11T23:17:00.000-08:00

Mary's Gift

2008-12-10T20:16:00.000-08:00

For that Wedding or birthday party. Or a special night out.

Top 20 Favorite X-Files Episodes

2008-12-09T21:52:00.000-08:00

Let me say up front that narrowing this list down to just twenty was hard, but easier than trying to name my all-time favorite episode. My cousin Zan posed what probably was meant to be a seemingly casual conversation starter. Whoo boy, did she open a dangerous door.

And by the way, I don't think I could name an all-time favorite.

This list is an over-all favorites. I would have a slightly different list for funny episodes, monster-of-the-week episodes and mythology arc episodes. Also, this list is not in any particular order, otherwise they would all be numbered number one.

1. Beyond the Sea

2. Ice

3. Eve

4. Triangle

5. Christmas Carol/Emily

6. E.B.E.

7. Duane Barry/Ascension

8. Paper Hearts

9. Small Potatoes

10. Bad Blood

11. Gethsemane/Redux II

12. Two Fathers/One Son

13. Anasazi/The Blessing Way/Paper Clip

14. Jose Chung's From Outer Space

15. Little Green Men

16. One Breath

17. Sein Und Zeit/Closure

18. Requiem

19. Pusher

20. Memento Mori

Yes, technically this is more than twenty, but I reserve the right to count arcs as one, unless one of the arc episodes failed to live up to the brilliancy of its partner episode/s.

Now, discuss, disagree, comment.

Pale Blue Dot - Carl Sagan

2008-12-03T14:39:00.000-08:00

One of my heroes, Carl Sagan, reads from his book, Pale Blue Dot.

Twenty Years Ago

2008-11-16T21:24:00.000-08:00

It seems crazy that twenty years ago yesterday a tornado swept through Topeka Kansas and disrupted businesses and schools and people's lives.
I was at school in French class.
I remember it had been raining all day and suddenly it stopped and the power went out. I looked out the window and noticed it was a weird shade of green out there. Then a tornado touched down on the house across the street, then bounced back up. That was when the tornado sirens went off and we learned the school had just been hit. I remember being concerned for my sister and my friends in other buildings.
My sister, Sarah, tells me we got a ride home from our friend, Jay, of which I have no memory. I later learned the Wendy's where I work was hit, the grade school where my other siblings went and my home were missed narrowly.
Someone made a tee-shirt at school about surviving the 1988 tornado and I wore it for years.
For many years afterward I suffered tornado nightmares. Those stopped a few years ago.
I'm glad no one was killed.

Laura's Loft at Lively

2008-11-15T17:31:00.001-08:00

Join The Impact

2008-11-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

I'm planning on checking off something on my to-do list. I've always wished I could have been alive during the civil rights era and been able to march with King. I think I have an opportunity to do something just as powerful. Saturday will be my first protest.

What About Love?

2008-11-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

Keith Olbermann and his newest special comment about prop 8. And you thought it was over?

It's a New Day -Will.i.am

2008-11-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

**edited** I'm so sad the link is gone of Will.i.am's video. It was awesome.

This is how I've felt every morning since Tuesday night.
Thanks for the link, Emily.

Yes, We Can -Barackapella

2008-11-06T09:38:00.000-08:00

Found on YouTube.

President-Elect Obama's Acceptance Speech

2008-11-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

Our Votes Elected The Next President

2008-11-04T23:42:00.000-08:00

A perfect summary of feelings.

Yes, We Can

2008-11-04T22:01:00.000-08:00

I have never been so hopeful. So emotional. So amazed. So proud to be an American. I am joyful for my future, our future, America's future. I know it will be a tough road ahead for all of us to repair our country. I believe we can do it. Together.

2008-11-03T23:11:00.000-08:00

Hope Over Fear

2008-11-03T22:40:00.000-08:00

This is it. Down to the final wire.
It has been a long road to this day. We've been exposed to so many views and opinions, lies, smears, fear-mongering, and hope. Better people than us have been sidelined and distracted, lost along the way and buried too soon in the ground.
It would be easy to give up, rest a little, think the fight is all but won.
If you have already cast your ballot, good job. Voting is the greatest way to show support for your candidate, the way democracy has provided us a way to change the direction of our country.
My fellow Americans, please think about the past eight years. It has been a hard time. we've lost too many souls to lies and the wrong direction. We can allow our country to sink further into this hole we are in or we can dig ourselves out and go down a different path. It's going to be hard. We know this. It's always been hard to change directions. It was hard declaring our independence. It was hard getting civil rights for African-Americans and the vote for women. We are battling to give marriage to everyone and equal pay for women and especially to elect our first African-American president.
I believe Barack Obama is the best person to lead and walk with us during this struggle. I believe him when he says we can come together and change our country for the good for everyone. I have hope and hope is a better feeling than fear.

Hilary Clinton, in her speech at the Democrats Convention, spoke of the struggles during the Underground Railroad;

"On that path to freedom, Harriet Tubman had one piece of advice:

‘If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If they’re shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop, keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.’"

Vote

2008-10-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

Whatever you believe, whomever you want in the White House, however you feel about either party, the only way for the average person to truly have a role in shaping America is to vote.
Vote your conscious. If you can, vote early. Encourage your friends to vote.