Thursday, November 29, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Where in the World?
Since you asked, we are at N20.66 W156.45 (For reference, home is N47.56 W122.25.) We are north of the equator and not too far from the international date line which means if we traveled west from here it, we would find ourselves somewhere in tomorrow land.
This is an interesting time zone map. You can see that in the Western Hemisphere the times zones run parallel to one another for the most part. But not always - we are due south of Alaska but in a different time zone. Hawaii doesn't participate in Daylight Savings Time so sometimes the time difference between Hawaii and Alaska is one hour, sometimes two. Sometimes two hours between here and Seattle, sometimes three.
But look at the Eastern Hemisphere. Time zones are all jumbled up. You can change times zones moving north or south as easily as east or west. Traveling to Tehran to India would require you to change both hands on your watch, the big one by thirty minutes. In Nepal, you'd have to move Micky's big arm another fifteen minutes one way or the other, depending on where you traveled from. And, forget about wearing a watch in Australia. You'll never figure out what time it is there. Just ask someone, if you need to know.
I'm not in Australia but I took off my watch anyway. Much better for work avoidance*.
(*Truth in advertising disclosure: I'm still writing every day. Some days it feels like work. I have 42,000 words for the month of November and I'm eagerly looking forward to the end of NaNoWriMo. Total word count is 55,555 and I'm just hoping there's a story in there somewhere worth reading. Time will tell. The question is, what time zone will I be in then?)
But look at the Eastern Hemisphere. Time zones are all jumbled up. You can change times zones moving north or south as easily as east or west. Traveling to Tehran to India would require you to change both hands on your watch, the big one by thirty minutes. In Nepal, you'd have to move Micky's big arm another fifteen minutes one way or the other, depending on where you traveled from. And, forget about wearing a watch in Australia. You'll never figure out what time it is there. Just ask someone, if you need to know.
I'm not in Australia but I took off my watch anyway. Much better for work avoidance*.
(*Truth in advertising disclosure: I'm still writing every day. Some days it feels like work. I have 42,000 words for the month of November and I'm eagerly looking forward to the end of NaNoWriMo. Total word count is 55,555 and I'm just hoping there's a story in there somewhere worth reading. Time will tell. The question is, what time zone will I be in then?)
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Yeah, I'm Here
BMW ended up replacing a sensor but a week later I was still time traveling so I went back (to BMW, not in time). By now I had staked out an area in the showroom as my office so I plugged in and got to work while they charged me another $120 to make another diagnosis.
Result? New battery.
Duh.
I've passed the 30,000 word mark in my insane attempt to write 50,000 in the month of November. This puts my total word count (since mid-October) over 44,000 which will deliver me to the mid-point of the novel sometime today.
Which means somebody has to die.
Result? New battery.
Duh.
I've passed the 30,000 word mark in my insane attempt to write 50,000 in the month of November. This puts my total word count (since mid-October) over 44,000 which will deliver me to the mid-point of the novel sometime today.
Which means somebody has to die.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Come Again?
Feeling cranky today. It's beautiful outside and I'm inside, stuck at Portland BMW while they charge me $120 to figure out what's wrong with my car. I know what's wrong with my car - the clock is losing time. Hubby has offered two possible reasons for this:
One- I'm traveling backwards in time five minutes. This could come in handy if I get into an accident or miss my turn. Or,
Two- I need a new battery.
This is my second visit to BMW for the same issue. Last time, they said the battery was fine but I needed a new sensor of some sort. Fine, give me the new sensor, I said. But here I am again so we're back to time travel or I need a new battery.
Everything else is working fine and I'm not getting any other messages from my car - like an idiot light that says "Time to Change Your Battery, Idiot" which makes the time travel option the most likely culprit at this point in time.
The good news is the coffee is free here. The bad news is I've had two cups already and I'm getting slightly agitated which isn't good because I was probably a little agitated when I got here already.
In other news, I've written over 21,000 words for Nanowrimo for a total of 34,600 words in my latest Now & Then novel. But it's hard, I'm bored, I'd rather do something else, I want to quit, this is hard (did I mention that?), whine, whine, WHINE! Oh, and I have a life that's starting to get mad at me for neglecting it and I just want to take a day off but then I'll fall behind - and we're back to whining.
Maybe I need a sanity break. Can I just go back to bed now?
One- I'm traveling backwards in time five minutes. This could come in handy if I get into an accident or miss my turn. Or,
Two- I need a new battery.
This is my second visit to BMW for the same issue. Last time, they said the battery was fine but I needed a new sensor of some sort. Fine, give me the new sensor, I said. But here I am again so we're back to time travel or I need a new battery.
Everything else is working fine and I'm not getting any other messages from my car - like an idiot light that says "Time to Change Your Battery, Idiot" which makes the time travel option the most likely culprit at this point in time.
The good news is the coffee is free here. The bad news is I've had two cups already and I'm getting slightly agitated which isn't good because I was probably a little agitated when I got here already.
In other news, I've written over 21,000 words for Nanowrimo for a total of 34,600 words in my latest Now & Then novel. But it's hard, I'm bored, I'd rather do something else, I want to quit, this is hard (did I mention that?), whine, whine, WHINE! Oh, and I have a life that's starting to get mad at me for neglecting it and I just want to take a day off but then I'll fall behind - and we're back to whining.
Maybe I need a sanity break. Can I just go back to bed now?
Friday, November 9, 2012
Irony
During tax season, I'll write anything to avoid work.
During writing season, I'll go out of my way to do tax research.
Avoidance is a tricky thing to master.
Maybe if I go back to bed, I can avoid it all.
During writing season, I'll go out of my way to do tax research.
Avoidance is a tricky thing to master.
Maybe if I go back to bed, I can avoid it all.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Today's Moral Dilemma
An accountant walks into a Starbucks....
Before you get all excited, I went there for "a friend." Okay? It wasn't for me. But I did by myself a sandwich and, in doing so, I also depleted the remaining balance on my rewards card so that's done.
But, here's my dilemma: Does "buying local" rule out a massive coffee conglomerate if the massive coffee conglomerate is located in my hometown employing thousands of people and buys from local vendors? I'm not sure about how much they buy from local vendors but I made sure to read the label on my sandwich and it was made right here, in Seattle.
So, now what?
Before you get all excited, I went there for "a friend." Okay? It wasn't for me. But I did by myself a sandwich and, in doing so, I also depleted the remaining balance on my rewards card so that's done.
But, here's my dilemma: Does "buying local" rule out a massive coffee conglomerate if the massive coffee conglomerate is located in my hometown employing thousands of people and buys from local vendors? I'm not sure about how much they buy from local vendors but I made sure to read the label on my sandwich and it was made right here, in Seattle.
So, now what?
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Lost in Chapter Eleven
“Thirsty Coventry, from Channel 7 news outside Now Investigations Headquarters,” she spoke to the camera, “speaking with Wynott Now.” She turned to address Wynott, stepping between him and Tsosumi. “Mr. Now, I understand you’ve been privately contracted to locate Hy and Flo D’Way who have been missing for several days now. Can you tell me how your investigation is going and what leads you are following up on?” She asked, thrusting her microphone in Wynott’s face.
“Actually, we haven’t really...”
“The investigation is going extremely well, Thirsty, although we aren’t at liberty to discuss details. As you clearly noted, the contract to find D’Ways is private.”
“And, you are?” Thirsty turned to Tsosumi.
“I’m Wynottt’s best ... I’m Mr. Now’s best ... assistant. He has several.”
“Any suspects in the case, Miss...?”
“Margeaux Away. No suspects as of yet but we do have one person of interest: Kandy Barr, who works as a stripper at Candy Stripers. We do think Ms. Barr warrants more attention in the matter.”
“Do you think we will see Kandy Barr behind bars?”
“It’s too early to tell but she could be excommunicated - barred for life.”
“Mr. Now, any more information you can give us?” Thirsty was excited to have the scoop on the other news stations and wanted to milk it for all it was worth.
“I’m sorry, I don’t I have much to add to that.”
Tsosumi gave him a look that said, “Say anything.”
“Frankly, Kandy Barr melted under interrogation but any further information must be kept under wraps at this time.”
“There you have it straight from Now Investigations World Headquarters. Thank you Mr. Now and Miss Away. This is Thirsty Coventry for Channel 7 News where news travels fast.” She held her gaze into the camera until the cameraman signaled he had finished recording the segment.
“What was all that?” Wynott asked as they entered the office.
“Don’t worry, it’ll never make it on the air.”
“How do you know?”
“She had some spinach stuck between her teeth.”
“Actually, we haven’t really...”
“The investigation is going extremely well, Thirsty, although we aren’t at liberty to discuss details. As you clearly noted, the contract to find D’Ways is private.”
“And, you are?” Thirsty turned to Tsosumi.
“I’m Wynottt’s best ... I’m Mr. Now’s best ... assistant. He has several.”
“Any suspects in the case, Miss...?”
“Margeaux Away. No suspects as of yet but we do have one person of interest: Kandy Barr, who works as a stripper at Candy Stripers. We do think Ms. Barr warrants more attention in the matter.”
“Do you think we will see Kandy Barr behind bars?”
“It’s too early to tell but she could be excommunicated - barred for life.”
“Mr. Now, any more information you can give us?” Thirsty was excited to have the scoop on the other news stations and wanted to milk it for all it was worth.
“I’m sorry, I don’t I have much to add to that.”
Tsosumi gave him a look that said, “Say anything.”
“Frankly, Kandy Barr melted under interrogation but any further information must be kept under wraps at this time.”
“There you have it straight from Now Investigations World Headquarters. Thank you Mr. Now and Miss Away. This is Thirsty Coventry for Channel 7 News where news travels fast.” She held her gaze into the camera until the cameraman signaled he had finished recording the segment.
“What was all that?” Wynott asked as they entered the office.
“Don’t worry, it’ll never make it on the air.”
“How do you know?”
“She had some spinach stuck between her teeth.”
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Somewhere in Chapter Ten
Justin, Wynott, and Tsosumi stayed to witness the sudden mayhem as reporters rushed in, clamoring to get a statement from anyone who was willing to talk into a microphone.
“...of course The Water Works seeks to safeguard the quality of water for all persons within economic stability models that have been meticulously reviewed by various experts in the field of...”
“...it would be premature to enter into any negotiations about the location of a new factory, not to mention insensitive to the heirs who understandably...”
“...most available water is unusable due to salt content or contaminants so the issue of paramount importance is to safely store and transport safe water which can take any number of forms....”
“...Tinkerbell.”
“...of course The Water Works seeks to safeguard the quality of water for all persons within economic stability models that have been meticulously reviewed by various experts in the field of...”
“...it would be premature to enter into any negotiations about the location of a new factory, not to mention insensitive to the heirs who understandably...”
“...most available water is unusable due to salt content or contaminants so the issue of paramount importance is to safely store and transport safe water which can take any number of forms....”
“...Tinkerbell.”
Somewhere in Chapter Nine
“Okay, how about this? Potato chips have a bad rap as junk food.”
“That’s because they are.”
“I keep telling you. It’s not about reality. It’s about perception. They already try to get you to think it’s a healthy product by listing all the things that’s not in them - no MSG, no trans fat, no preservatives, et cetera - and all the things that could be potentially be good such as natural oils....”
“I notice you haven’t mentioned actual potatoes yet.”
“Exactly. I’m thinking about contacting the snack division of Condiment Conglomerate and pitching an idea for a new marketing strategy and it’s simple. Add ‘Made With Real Food Ingredients’ to the package. It’s vague but it implies there are potatoes in there. More importantly, it suggests their competitors don’t use potatoes or that their potatoes aren’t real. That suggestion alone is all you need for a competitive edge.”
“Why not add ‘Does Not Include Arsenic’ and suggest that it could be a cure for cancer?”
“Because, they probably do contain arsenic.”
“That’s because they are.”
“I keep telling you. It’s not about reality. It’s about perception. They already try to get you to think it’s a healthy product by listing all the things that’s not in them - no MSG, no trans fat, no preservatives, et cetera - and all the things that could be potentially be good such as natural oils....”
“I notice you haven’t mentioned actual potatoes yet.”
“Exactly. I’m thinking about contacting the snack division of Condiment Conglomerate and pitching an idea for a new marketing strategy and it’s simple. Add ‘Made With Real Food Ingredients’ to the package. It’s vague but it implies there are potatoes in there. More importantly, it suggests their competitors don’t use potatoes or that their potatoes aren’t real. That suggestion alone is all you need for a competitive edge.”
“Why not add ‘Does Not Include Arsenic’ and suggest that it could be a cure for cancer?”
“Because, they probably do contain arsenic.”
Friday, November 2, 2012
Blew It!
It's a top down day and I didn't drive the top down car! Haven't seen the sun today. But haven't seen rain either. And, that counts.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Jasper Fforde & Nancy Pearl
This is the link for the audio of the interview I attended on October 15. It's about an hour long so pop some popcorn first. Plus, if you're trying to avoid anything, this'll do it. (I don't know if you'll avoid any storms with it, though.)
The volume starts out real low at the beginning but it gets better after the introductions are over.
Jasper Fforde & Nancy Pearl
The volume starts out real low at the beginning but it gets better after the introductions are over.
Jasper Fforde & Nancy Pearl
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Fantasy Land
I think it would be fun* to write a fictional blog. This one is mostly true although I do embellish for comic effect. My first "novel" (Nanowrimo project of 2010) concerned a woman who blogged but the character didn't actually blog. I mean, in real cyberspace, if that isn't an oxymoron.
What if I created a fictional blog by a fictional person? It could be great fun to invent all kinds of bizarre occurrences, like a global boycott against Starbucks. Who would ever be dumb enough to think they could take on Starbucks? I would have to name it FICTIONAL BLOG or something in case this blogger gets involved in something illegal. I wouldn't want to ruin the fantasy by interjecting a lot of reality and disclaimers but I don't want the FBI knocking down my door either.
I already have enough on my writing plate for the next couple months so I'm not sure I'll launch into this write away. On the other hand, it could be a fun companion piece to Now & Then if the blog is written by Tsosumi and it tracks with the story. It could be a way to get juices flowing and allow me to get in her head a little more.
Or it could be a great big time suck which I have no problems finding enough of (or creating for myself).
Anyway, just something I'm thinking about for fun.
*Okay, my idea of fun might be different than yours.
What if I created a fictional blog by a fictional person? It could be great fun to invent all kinds of bizarre occurrences, like a global boycott against Starbucks. Who would ever be dumb enough to think they could take on Starbucks? I would have to name it FICTIONAL BLOG or something in case this blogger gets involved in something illegal. I wouldn't want to ruin the fantasy by interjecting a lot of reality and disclaimers but I don't want the FBI knocking down my door either.
I already have enough on my writing plate for the next couple months so I'm not sure I'll launch into this write away. On the other hand, it could be a fun companion piece to Now & Then if the blog is written by Tsosumi and it tracks with the story. It could be a way to get juices flowing and allow me to get in her head a little more.
Or it could be a great big time suck which I have no problems finding enough of (or creating for myself).
Anyway, just something I'm thinking about for fun.
*Okay, my idea of fun might be different than yours.
Progress
It's been a week since my last confession. So far, I have nothing to confess.
Yesterday, I had a latte at Costco. You don't need a rewards card to have a coffee at Costco because it only costs a dollar in the first place. It wasn't the best latte I've ever had but it wasn't the worst either so there's progress right there. And, just so you know, the Costco was across the street from a Starbucks. So there.
Also, it is Nanowrimo eve eve and I'm starting to feel a little panicked about writing 50,000 words in 30 days and getting something I like out of the mess that is likely to result from it. (I was referring to my writing rather than my psyche and family relationships.) What I write before November 1st doesn't count for Nanowrimo but it certainly counts as far as getting a completed project. (I'm shooting for 80-90,000 words so some will necessarily be written before and after Nanowrimo.)
Anyway, I thought I would post my progress here. I published last year's Now & Then adventure as a serial which was great fun. I had a blast writing it and I loved getting the instant feedback. This year's writing feels rather isolated by comparison. It's hard to know if I'm on the write track if no one's reading it. (Like a falling tree in a forest, if there are no readers am I really writing?)
There's nothing in my progress report as of yet. I've only created the page and the link to share here. I'll get it filled out later today. What I intend to put there is chapter recaps and word counts as I go along. It'll help me keep track of where I am in the story as well.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Confession
I mentioned earlier that I fell off the Global Boycott wagon. This was Wednesday and I was getting my hair cut in a salon that is located next to a Starbucks. My thoughts, at that point, were altruistic. I still had a few bucks left on my reward card and rather than let Starbucks keep my money, I was going to spend it all and close the account.
But then - and anytime I start a sentence with "but then" you should be alerted to the fact that things went awry from that point forward - I logged on to their website to check my balance. Exactly, how much was on my card?
Who cares? should have been my self-reply.
But I looked, and I became distracted. Argh - those bleeding stars! I only needed to purchase three more drinks (thus earning three more stars) to get a free drink (the only remaining benefit of the rewards program, assuming I maintain Gold status which requires 30 cups of coffee per year). Hell, I was about to buy one - what's two more?
And so, I put another five dollars on the card, got a coffee, and am one star closer to a free drink. But, I still have a remaining balance. I'm not sure I accomplished much. Not only that, I sacrificed my already shaky moral principals for a double tall soy latte.
Yes. I feel guilty. But I have a plan. Two actually. The first is to buy stock in Starbucks thus creating my own rewards program. So, if I give Starbucks $500 (which is roughly the equivalent of 110 double tall soy lattes), I could earn enough in dividends for a free cup of coffee.
The other strategy is to sign up all my family and friends for a Starbucks card. Even without Gold status, registered cardholders get a free drink on their birthdays and I don't think they have to buy a single cup of coffee for that reward.
And, if I employ both strategies, I'd get more free coffee than if they continued to reward me as a loyal customer in the first place.
No, I'm not bitter.
And, I guess I'm not feeling all that guilty either.
The bottom line is the Global Boycott continues to struggle. This time I fell off the wagon after a week. But, that was six days longer than the last time, so I'll consider that progress. And then - note the difference between "and then" and "but then" - there's this:
But then - and anytime I start a sentence with "but then" you should be alerted to the fact that things went awry from that point forward - I logged on to their website to check my balance. Exactly, how much was on my card?
Who cares? should have been my self-reply.
But I looked, and I became distracted. Argh - those bleeding stars! I only needed to purchase three more drinks (thus earning three more stars) to get a free drink (the only remaining benefit of the rewards program, assuming I maintain Gold status which requires 30 cups of coffee per year). Hell, I was about to buy one - what's two more?
And so, I put another five dollars on the card, got a coffee, and am one star closer to a free drink. But, I still have a remaining balance. I'm not sure I accomplished much. Not only that, I sacrificed my already shaky moral principals for a double tall soy latte.
Yes. I feel guilty. But I have a plan. Two actually. The first is to buy stock in Starbucks thus creating my own rewards program. So, if I give Starbucks $500 (which is roughly the equivalent of 110 double tall soy lattes), I could earn enough in dividends for a free cup of coffee.
The other strategy is to sign up all my family and friends for a Starbucks card. Even without Gold status, registered cardholders get a free drink on their birthdays and I don't think they have to buy a single cup of coffee for that reward.
And, if I employ both strategies, I'd get more free coffee than if they continued to reward me as a loyal customer in the first place.
No, I'm not bitter.
And, I guess I'm not feeling all that guilty either.
The bottom line is the Global Boycott continues to struggle. This time I fell off the wagon after a week. But, that was six days longer than the last time, so I'll consider that progress. And then - note the difference between "and then" and "but then" - there's this:
It is disheartening that calls for boycotts of Starbucks stores and products, which are based on blatant untruths, have had direct impacts on local economies and residents....
Starbucks: Myths and FactsHowever I proceed at this point may be of no consequence. I have them right where I want them.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Circleville, Ohio
I know that got your attention. And, why wouldn't it? Circleville is the known center of the universe.
I fell off the global boycott wagon yesterday and I was going to tell you about that today (and maybe I'll get around to that later) but then I spotted this: The Official Circleville Pumpkin Show. Now let me just point out, this is not just some pumpkin patch in the middle of nowhere. This is a pumpkin show with parades (plural) and princesses: Miss Pumpkin and Little Miss Pumpkin. There is a Schedule of Events which includes the Southern Ohio Giant Growers Association weigh-off (and let me just point out there really is an association of giant pumpkin growers in southern Ohio which, from pictures, appears to be an association of growers growing giant pumpkins, not of giant growers), lectures and demonstrations, music, the Roundtown Ringers Chime Choir (yes, a bell choir), contests, and even karaoke. This is not just a show, my friends. This is a festival of epic proportions. Giant, even.
But here's the best part. I learned of this event on Facebook.
Much like the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, and according to my grandfather, the average person is only a few acquaintance links apart from Circleville, Ohio. On Facebook, my friend, Paulette, posted that she had taken her son to a pumpkin patch and her friend, Eric, posted - from Circleville! - the link to the Official Circlevile Pumpkin Show. Boom! Two acquaintance links and we're there!
It does not get better than this.
I fell off the global boycott wagon yesterday and I was going to tell you about that today (and maybe I'll get around to that later) but then I spotted this: The Official Circleville Pumpkin Show. Now let me just point out, this is not just some pumpkin patch in the middle of nowhere. This is a pumpkin show with parades (plural) and princesses: Miss Pumpkin and Little Miss Pumpkin. There is a Schedule of Events which includes the Southern Ohio Giant Growers Association weigh-off (and let me just point out there really is an association of giant pumpkin growers in southern Ohio which, from pictures, appears to be an association of growers growing giant pumpkins, not of giant growers), lectures and demonstrations, music, the Roundtown Ringers Chime Choir (yes, a bell choir), contests, and even karaoke. This is not just a show, my friends. This is a festival of epic proportions. Giant, even.
But here's the best part. I learned of this event on Facebook.
Much like the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, and according to my grandfather, the average person is only a few acquaintance links apart from Circleville, Ohio. On Facebook, my friend, Paulette, posted that she had taken her son to a pumpkin patch and her friend, Eric, posted - from Circleville! - the link to the Official Circlevile Pumpkin Show. Boom! Two acquaintance links and we're there!
It does not get better than this.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Now & Then
"I'm tired of having to say 'the other Vancouver' and 'the other Washington.'"This line was supplied by Galina who cut my hair today. She also told me to hurry up and finish my book so she can read it. I'm working on it, Galina! Thanks for being a reader!
I think I'll attribute this line to H.T. Eaux who is a frustrated politician - frustrated because while he wields enormous power in the small pond of Vancouver*, he is unknown in larger political circles. But, if he could solve Vancouver's financial woes by charging more for water usage and, at the same time, attract new industry, he would not only be a local hero but he would have a platform for launching onto larger political stages.
This would make his wife, Jackie, very, very happy.
*I'm currently setting the stage in Vancouver rather than San Francisco (or SFOak/LA, as I renamed it). I think it's funnier. Not to mention easier.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Satire Day
There's no doubt it's fall. My favorite time for taking pictures. And cooking lots of good food. David Sedaris is at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton tonight. I'd go if I could figure out how to get there in the next few hours.
Meanwhile I have first drafts of Chapters One and Two* of the next Now & Then adventure. Probably about 4,000 words. It's inconceivable that I could come up with 80-90,000 more. But that's what the organic chai tea lattes are for. Encouragement. And fuel. At $4.50 per cup, it'll cost me around $225 for the first draft. Might be worth it.
Thanks for supporting the global boycott, btw. Does this make it a movement, officially? And, if we link to each other, is that considered a circular reference?
*They're not posted anywhere at this time.
Meanwhile I have first drafts of Chapters One and Two* of the next Now & Then adventure. Probably about 4,000 words. It's inconceivable that I could come up with 80-90,000 more. But that's what the organic chai tea lattes are for. Encouragement. And fuel. At $4.50 per cup, it'll cost me around $225 for the first draft. Might be worth it.
Thanks for supporting the global boycott, btw. Does this make it a movement, officially? And, if we link to each other, is that considered a circular reference?
*They're not posted anywhere at this time.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Star Struck
 |
| From Drop Box |
I didn't actually get to meet him but I did have a very good view of him. Nancy Pearl was selling her books there as well, but not her action figure which is a bummer. That would have made for a perfect evening!
(I don't mean to spoil The Woman Who Died A Lot but Nancy is in it. Very, very cool.)
As for The Last Dragonslayer, it was published in 2010! Before you wonder how it's possible you could have missed it, the book was only released in the United States earlier this month. In fact, on the same day as The Woman Who Died A Lot. This book is the first of three which have already been written and published in the UK.
There were 200-300 attendees. (For tea drinkers, you can translate that to 250.) I wanted to get my book signed but it would have surely taken an hour to get through the line. I passed on the signature.
I'm glad I bought the book though. He made a comment about reading on paper versus e readers - essentially that reading on paper was more essentially "real." I would have looked silly just sitting there with my Kindle on my lap - everyone else had a book or two. (It's good to blend in.)
As for the interview, it was recorded but I can't find it on the internet yet. It was sponsored by University of Washington Book Store. Nancy broadcasts videos here (there's an interview with Mr. Fforde from 2005) but nothing from the 15th.
I'll keep looking. If I find the link for the audio, I'll let you know.
There were 200-300 attendees. (For tea drinkers, you can translate that to 250.) I wanted to get my book signed but it would have surely taken an hour to get through the line. I passed on the signature.
I'm glad I bought the book though. He made a comment about reading on paper versus e readers - essentially that reading on paper was more essentially "real." I would have looked silly just sitting there with my Kindle on my lap - everyone else had a book or two. (It's good to blend in.)
As for the interview, it was recorded but I can't find it on the internet yet. It was sponsored by University of Washington Book Store. Nancy broadcasts videos here (there's an interview with Mr. Fforde from 2005) but nothing from the 15th.
I'll keep looking. If I find the link for the audio, I'll let you know.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Loyalty Goes Both Ways
"So? Starbucks rewards loyalty - and they're not out to take over the world. Okay, that was a bad example...."
Thursday Next in The Woman Who Died A LotI wonder if Mr. Fforde knows that after only two weeks after publication, his book is already out of date.
As it turns out, I read the above line today which is funny because, as of today, Starbucks does not reward loyalty. I was planning a worldwide boycott but, to tell the truth, even before Starbucks had a reward program, they were my caffeine-pusher-of-choice. So what's the difference now? Nothing, really. I just liked the attention - well, perceived attention. I got post cards and I have a gold card in my wallet with my name on it.
So, I don't know about the global boycott. I am easily influenced by the "dark side" of everything. Amazon, Google - it's all just too easy, like the Goliath Corporation (which "catered for everything from the cradle to the grave" Ibid.). Starbucks, whether you like it or not, is everywhere and you know exactly what you're going to get when you go into one. It's like the whole principal behind McDonald's - you can walk into any one and get the same experience, hamburger, or cup of coffee.
They're on every corner, and if you're not sure which corner is closest, you can check your mobile app so you can rest assured you're never far from another cup.
I was a fan before the rewards program so what's the problem?
The problem is I feel used. They didn't have to manipulate me to get my vote; they already had it. I gave them my e-mail address, I let them track my buying habits in exchange for some goodies. Now, they have my information but I no longer have the goodies.
I shouldn't complain too much. My grocery store knows more about me than they should. My internet browser stalks me. My freaking car can differentiate between asses* and will adjust the seats automatically when I get in! How personal is that?
It's time to do something different. It's time to buy local. I try to do that anyway but now it's time to try harder. The mermaid is just going to have to learn to live without me for a while.
Maybe I'll send her a postcard on her birthday
(*exaggeration)
Monday, October 15, 2012
A Pretty Big Day
I have the opportunity to meet Jasper Fforde and Nancy Pearl this evening. (Woo hoo!)
And, it's the last day to cash in on Starbucks Rewards.
Oh, and the last day to file your taxes if you haven't done that already.
Whew!
And, it's the last day to cash in on Starbucks Rewards.
Oh, and the last day to file your taxes if you haven't done that already.
Whew!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I'm eating my favorite emergency food: chili from a can. "Emergency" = I'm hungry and too lazy to do anything about it. I took it out of the can first and heated it up - not that lazy! To round out my culinary week, I had chocolate chip mint ice cream after my Purple Stride Walk* in support of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. And, I've got Oreos in the fridge. (Is it tax season??)
*More on this later because, in fact, it is Tax Season Part II. Everyone who extended their tax return must file by October 15th and it's a prerequisite that the more complicated the return, the longer they take to bring us their stuff. So, busy.
*More on this later because, in fact, it is Tax Season Part II. Everyone who extended their tax return must file by October 15th and it's a prerequisite that the more complicated the return, the longer they take to bring us their stuff. So, busy.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Skills
If they had known who I am, they would have never given me the bean bags. For a dollar, I had the chance to win $100 by tossing bean bags across a room at a cornhole target. We were at the Portland Meadows for Customer Appreciation Day and, although I had never been there before, I was about to be appreciated.
The feeling was mutual.
I got two out of four which wasn't enough for the $100 but it was enough for $20 in betting vouchers. So, bet I did. On the horses.
A couple of beers, hot dogs, and six races later, I left with $70.
Skills.
(Props to my coach and the home field management of Blechschmidt Meadowlands for teaching me everything I know about the sport.)
The feeling was mutual.
I got two out of four which wasn't enough for the $100 but it was enough for $20 in betting vouchers. So, bet I did. On the horses.
A couple of beers, hot dogs, and six races later, I left with $70.
Skills.
(Props to my coach and the home field management of Blechschmidt Meadowlands for teaching me everything I know about the sport.)
Stalked Again
What worries me is not that I'm being stalked. What worries me is that it doesn't worry me.
I was sitting at my desk the other day when I saw a shadow cross my window, not ten feet away.
I'm in a first floor apartment, facing the street, and I work from home. I'd rather people didn't know when I'm here and when I'm not so I always keep the blinds mostly closed - open enough for light but not open enough for someone to see in. I knew it wasn't the day for the landscapers - they had come the day before.
And, yet, I wasn't worried. More, I was curious about who might be outside my window and what would happen when we came face to face. The source of this shadow wasn't on the sidewalk. No, whoever cast this shadow was right outside.
Now, I would come out of my skin if a spider were to cross my path, but a mysterious shadow across my window? Surely, there must be a screw loose in here somewhere.
The shadow moved as I watched. And, then, the shadow spoke.
"Meow," said the cat on my windowsill who was stalking, indeed, to find the best spot in which to sun himself.
"Boo," I replied.
Boo, indeed.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Not The Onion, Indeed
Sticky buns 'devastating' for Swedish wild boar
But local officials warn that the practice, while increasing the chances of a successful hunt, it increases the risk that the boar suffer from weight problems and poor dental hygiene.H/T Ron's Log
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
"Rewards Faster"
This is the slogan Starbucks is using to encourage devotees to think that stripping their Rewards Program of rewards is a good idea. What they've done is change their program to match the frequent buyer program of every other coffee house, shack, or roadside stand on the planet. No free syrups. No free soy. No free drink if you pay full retail for a pound of coffee. Heck, you won't even get a free, flippin' postcard anymore. I liked the postcard! Now, you get a free coffee after purchasing 12 just like every other joe joint. They might as well go back to using punch cards.
Okay, getting rid of the postcard is a good idea that I can support. On the other hand, the paper punch card might be more environmentally correct than the plastic ones. At this point, the plastic ones aren't really needed, are they? But there's no longer a reason to choose Starbucks over another coffee joint. Certainly not the price. Their only hope is they have enabled the coffee addictions of enough of the coffee consuming public that it won't matter.
Well, this morning, I'm drinking Seattle's Best. Take that!
Okay, getting rid of the postcard is a good idea that I can support. On the other hand, the paper punch card might be more environmentally correct than the plastic ones. At this point, the plastic ones aren't really needed, are they? But there's no longer a reason to choose Starbucks over another coffee joint. Certainly not the price. Their only hope is they have enabled the coffee addictions of enough of the coffee consuming public that it won't matter.
Well, this morning, I'm drinking Seattle's Best. Take that!
Monday, October 1, 2012
System Re-Boot
 |
| From Drop Box |
No A/C and no windows that open. I wondered if the door locks worked or if they had battery backup. What about the sprinklers, fire alarms, and smoke detectors? How many transformers would blow when the juice came back online?
The sun came up and the power was on. Just another day. Everything looks like it went as planned, although I haven't ventured outside the hotel yet. Speaking of venturing out, the sign on the hotel room door says "Fire alarm sounds like a loud siren."
Perhaps there was some confusion.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
A Winning Combination
All the important events in my life take place in a casino. Or, very near one, at least.
We were married 23 years ago in Reno, Nevada. We got marred at the Chapel on the Park which was the only chapel I could find without an Elvis impersonator and plastic flowers. We bought our rings at a pawn shop, rented a tux, and got hitched.
Subsequent birthdays and anniversaries, thusly, are celebrated in casinos.
We are, for the next half hour, at the Wild Horse Casino in Pendleton, Oregon, which is the only "dry" casino I'm aware of. You can smoke like a fiend here, but you can only drink in the bar. Which is, of course, where we ended up and danced the night away to the local cover band. We partied like rock stars and had a blast.
Next week is my birthday....
We were married 23 years ago in Reno, Nevada. We got marred at the Chapel on the Park which was the only chapel I could find without an Elvis impersonator and plastic flowers. We bought our rings at a pawn shop, rented a tux, and got hitched.
Subsequent birthdays and anniversaries, thusly, are celebrated in casinos.
We are, for the next half hour, at the Wild Horse Casino in Pendleton, Oregon, which is the only "dry" casino I'm aware of. You can smoke like a fiend here, but you can only drink in the bar. Which is, of course, where we ended up and danced the night away to the local cover band. We partied like rock stars and had a blast.
Next week is my birthday....
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Let's say you're driving on a two-lane road (that is, one lane in each direction) and you're following a car and you are both coming to an intersection. Just as you approach the intersection, another lane is added and the car in front of you chooses the right turn only lane. You are aiming for the left lane because you are either going straight or turning left.
Let's just say you pull as far forward as you can so the car that was previously in front of you has no choice but to wait until you've cleared the intersection because the right hand car can no longer see the traffic coming from the left.
This is how you avoid waiting your turn in line.
(btw, this makes me crazy.)
Let's just say you pull as far forward as you can so the car that was previously in front of you has no choice but to wait until you've cleared the intersection because the right hand car can no longer see the traffic coming from the left.
This is how you avoid waiting your turn in line.
(btw, this makes me crazy.)
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Three Minute Fiction*
It’s probably time for me to retire anyway. I’ve been here for a lot of years and they want someone younger in this job now, someone fresher. Someone who is comfortable with new technology.
I remember when I got my security clearance. That was decades ago and I wasn’t allowed in the West Wing even then. When I started, I was in charge of cleaning up after the chimney sweeps. Every six months they would come and they always left a sooty mess behind. Footprints everywhere. There are thirty-five chimneys in the White House and over the years, Cheney’s was the dirtiest.
You’d be surprised how long it takes to move up the ranks in the Executive Residence Staff. You have to work there for years before you’re trusted enough to not be noticed. I didn’t get the Oval Office detail for twelve years and I’ve been cleaning it ever since.
That was twenty years ago. When a man sat behind the desk.
It’s no surprise it came to this. The media had been talking about how obsolete the President was for years. Not the function so much as the man. He didn’t have any real power, after all. Congress had all the power. The President was redundant. Anything he did had to be approved by Congress. They just wanted to eliminate the middleman.
President Roddenberry was the last person to hold the office before it was outsourced. He took it hard but he was a believer of the system and, besides, there wasn’t anything he could do.
POTUS was built in the United States but not all of its parts. The computer chips and circuitry came from overseas. The programmers were primarily U.S. citizens but some of the code was outsourced. If people were fed up with the biases of the President, shouldn’t they be worried about those of the programmers?
It’s shaped as an obelisk made of polished steel. Pundits said it was a nod to George Washington but I think they did it for the photographs. A metal box the shape of a shoebox would look pathetic on the Resolute Desk. They wanted it to have height. They wanted something that looked imposing
I can see the advantages to POTUS. One less election, for one thing. And POTUS can literally track the will of the people. But, that’s my problem right there. The “people” crave reality TV. This isn’t a game. This is a country. But nobody asked me.
It used to be, I cleaned the Oval Office early in the morning. I only had to be out before the President arrived. Now, of course, POTUS is behind the desk 24/7 and they won’t let me in there at all. But I cleaned that office until President Roddenberry’s last day and I learned a lot even though I never met the man.
For example, all the pictures of the installation featured an empty box because they were behind schedule. POTUS wasn’t finished yet. And, there are two POTUSes. That’s so there’s always one online while the other one gets updates. And, its battery backup only lasts four hours. I found that out when I tripped over the cord in the first week. It wasn’t long after that I was asked to leave. They said my duster created too much static electricity and posed a threat to POTUS.
I didn’t like that power cord. It made POTUS look vulnerable: a symbol of the greatest country on earth had a rat’s tail. It was like pulling back Oz’s curtain and finding only a man.
But, then again, maybe that’s how it should be.
*NPR
I remember when I got my security clearance. That was decades ago and I wasn’t allowed in the West Wing even then. When I started, I was in charge of cleaning up after the chimney sweeps. Every six months they would come and they always left a sooty mess behind. Footprints everywhere. There are thirty-five chimneys in the White House and over the years, Cheney’s was the dirtiest.
You’d be surprised how long it takes to move up the ranks in the Executive Residence Staff. You have to work there for years before you’re trusted enough to not be noticed. I didn’t get the Oval Office detail for twelve years and I’ve been cleaning it ever since.
That was twenty years ago. When a man sat behind the desk.
It’s no surprise it came to this. The media had been talking about how obsolete the President was for years. Not the function so much as the man. He didn’t have any real power, after all. Congress had all the power. The President was redundant. Anything he did had to be approved by Congress. They just wanted to eliminate the middleman.
President Roddenberry was the last person to hold the office before it was outsourced. He took it hard but he was a believer of the system and, besides, there wasn’t anything he could do.
POTUS was built in the United States but not all of its parts. The computer chips and circuitry came from overseas. The programmers were primarily U.S. citizens but some of the code was outsourced. If people were fed up with the biases of the President, shouldn’t they be worried about those of the programmers?
It’s shaped as an obelisk made of polished steel. Pundits said it was a nod to George Washington but I think they did it for the photographs. A metal box the shape of a shoebox would look pathetic on the Resolute Desk. They wanted it to have height. They wanted something that looked imposing
I can see the advantages to POTUS. One less election, for one thing. And POTUS can literally track the will of the people. But, that’s my problem right there. The “people” crave reality TV. This isn’t a game. This is a country. But nobody asked me.
It used to be, I cleaned the Oval Office early in the morning. I only had to be out before the President arrived. Now, of course, POTUS is behind the desk 24/7 and they won’t let me in there at all. But I cleaned that office until President Roddenberry’s last day and I learned a lot even though I never met the man.
For example, all the pictures of the installation featured an empty box because they were behind schedule. POTUS wasn’t finished yet. And, there are two POTUSes. That’s so there’s always one online while the other one gets updates. And, its battery backup only lasts four hours. I found that out when I tripped over the cord in the first week. It wasn’t long after that I was asked to leave. They said my duster created too much static electricity and posed a threat to POTUS.
I didn’t like that power cord. It made POTUS look vulnerable: a symbol of the greatest country on earth had a rat’s tail. It was like pulling back Oz’s curtain and finding only a man.
But, then again, maybe that’s how it should be.
*NPR
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Juxtaposition
I was looking at the calendar for the Clark County Event Center to see what there was to do this weekend. I thought maybe it was time for the county fair but it's already come and gone. However, if you're interested, there are two events taking place there this weekend: The Portland Agility Dog Trials and the Seattle Cat Club Show. Funny that these would be on the same weekend and that it's the dogs that need to be agile.
But this reminds me: I went to the library yesterday to pick up The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum. I thought it might provide some useful ideas of how to foil my protagonists in my upcoming Now & Then story. In browsing the shelf, I found some other interesting titles and also checked out Coroner At Large by Thomas T. Noguchi, M.D. and This Will Kill You by HP Newquist and Rich Maloof. (This last one already looks good. Check out the Table of Contents: Chapter One, Alligators....)
These books were located very near another interesting title: The Ultimate Guide to Orgasm for Women by Mikaya Heart.
Interesting that death and orgasm are shelved so close together.
But this reminds me: I went to the library yesterday to pick up The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum. I thought it might provide some useful ideas of how to foil my protagonists in my upcoming Now & Then story. In browsing the shelf, I found some other interesting titles and also checked out Coroner At Large by Thomas T. Noguchi, M.D. and This Will Kill You by HP Newquist and Rich Maloof. (This last one already looks good. Check out the Table of Contents: Chapter One, Alligators....)
These books were located very near another interesting title: The Ultimate Guide to Orgasm for Women by Mikaya Heart.
Interesting that death and orgasm are shelved so close together.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Maybe I'm Jinxed
I got the lights back on in the kitchen so I can see what I'm doing to make coffee which is good because I have NO IDEA how many decaffeinated people it takes to change a light bulb and I have no interested in finding out, either.
But even as I contemplated the answer to the above riddle, the light bulb burned out in my dining/office so now I'm working in the dark.
At least I have coffee.
But even as I contemplated the answer to the above riddle, the light bulb burned out in my dining/office so now I'm working in the dark.
At least I have coffee.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
How To Buy A Daughter
In 2009, Steinberg came under a worldwide media firestorm when he announced on his website that couples could also choose their baby’s eye and hair color, in addition to gender.Didn't think it could happen, did you? Thought I made the whole thing up, huh? Well, me too. I had no idea it was possible.
But, there you go.
Fertility doctors foresee an explosion in sex-selection procedures on the horizon, as couples become accustomed to the idea that they can pay to beget children of the gender they prefer.
Slate: How To Buy A DaughterIf you're new to the site, I wrote a story last year with designer babies as the general premise. It's called Now & Then and you can find it, in its entirety, right here, for a limited time. Free!
It's a work of fiction, about 20,000 words (less than 100 pages), a tongue in cheek story about two amateur detectives, Tsosumi Then and Wynott Now, who must find Ken and Barb Carson's missing baby and uncover a black market designer baby racket in the process.
It was a lot of fun to write and, for some, a lot of fun to read. I hope you like it.
Meanwhile, I'm working on the next Now & Then adventure. Tsosumi and Wynott are hired to find the missing parents of Carrie D'Way. Known as the Water Princess, Carrie is heir to her parents' substantial water rights. Things get serious when the Guy Goody, who is challenging H.T. Eaux for Commissioner of the Water Works in the upcoming election, is found dead and all that is left of him is Goody's two shoes.
I'll bet you can't wait, can you?
Monday, September 17, 2012
Nightmare!
I dreamed that we suffered a power outage last night. (The dream and the power outage.) I woke up and noted the time. It was 4:30 am. It didn't occur to me that I wouldn't know the time if the power was out. In my dream-state, I was confident that my electric clock had a battery backup. It made perfect sense at the time and, as far as I know, it could be true.
The real concern wasn't what time it was, or whether my clock was functioning properly, or even whether there was a power outage at all. My only concern, after noting the time, was how I was going to make coffee later in the morning. There was nothing to be done about it at that early hour so I dozed back to sleep and hoped the power would be on again shortly.
At closer to 7 am, I wondered if the power was back. The clock was functioning, as before, but why bother getting out of bed if there's no coffee? I imagined I might have to trek to Starbucks to get my literal and figurative juices flowing. But, then, I heard a tick - the sound of the bathroom heater clicking on. Aha! Power!
I emerged from my bed/cocoon and checked the clock on the microwave. Not flashing. No power outage. It had all been a dream and I was saved! Coffee was mine and the day was dawning fresh, anew, with glory and hope abounding. Amen.
But I need to add this to my To Do List: Go to the boat and retrieve my kettle and french press. Catastrophe awaits and I must be prepared.
The real concern wasn't what time it was, or whether my clock was functioning properly, or even whether there was a power outage at all. My only concern, after noting the time, was how I was going to make coffee later in the morning. There was nothing to be done about it at that early hour so I dozed back to sleep and hoped the power would be on again shortly.
At closer to 7 am, I wondered if the power was back. The clock was functioning, as before, but why bother getting out of bed if there's no coffee? I imagined I might have to trek to Starbucks to get my literal and figurative juices flowing. But, then, I heard a tick - the sound of the bathroom heater clicking on. Aha! Power!
I emerged from my bed/cocoon and checked the clock on the microwave. Not flashing. No power outage. It had all been a dream and I was saved! Coffee was mine and the day was dawning fresh, anew, with glory and hope abounding. Amen.
But I need to add this to my To Do List: Go to the boat and retrieve my kettle and french press. Catastrophe awaits and I must be prepared.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Official Forecast
According to Accuweather.com
Is "dreary" a new weather term? Anyway, I hope they're wrong.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Blood Donation
(Could I get a receipt for that?)
I donated blood the other day and it's been a while. I think the last time I donated was in 2001. That was the year I ran my first* marathon and, and at the time, I didn't think I could spare it. I couldn't tell you why I didn't go back to donating blood after that.
Turns out, things have changed over the last decade. Some good, some not so good. The biggest difference was how they asked those embarrassing, very personal, questions. They don't. You still have to answer them but you get to do it on a touch-screen laptop while the interviewer takes a smoke break.
Another difference, and this is during the face-to-face interview, was the intake person asked me to give my gender. I wonder what would have happened if I said, "Male."** I wasn't brave enough to find out.
I did, once, answer the following question in the following manner:
The most disheartening change was there wasn't a cookie waiting for me after it was all over; they had Cheez-Its. I don't have anything against Cheez-Its. In fact, some of my favorite cracker-like snacks are cheese-like crackers. But, I wanted a cookie. Hell, I earned it! I mean, if I had known I wouldn't get a cookie I might not have made the effort!
Oh, well. At least I wasn't making a blood withdrawal.
*of two - and in the interest of full disclosure, I ran it in 4:45:03. I improved my time by ninety seconds when I ran the Cincinnati Flying Pigs Marathon roughly six months later in 4:43:37. I wouldn't want to be innacurate with regard to my marathon time. Sheesh, who would do that??
I donated blood the other day and it's been a while. I think the last time I donated was in 2001. That was the year I ran my first* marathon and, and at the time, I didn't think I could spare it. I couldn't tell you why I didn't go back to donating blood after that.
Turns out, things have changed over the last decade. Some good, some not so good. The biggest difference was how they asked those embarrassing, very personal, questions. They don't. You still have to answer them but you get to do it on a touch-screen laptop while the interviewer takes a smoke break.
Another difference, and this is during the face-to-face interview, was the intake person asked me to give my gender. I wonder what would have happened if I said, "Male."** I wasn't brave enough to find out.
I did, once, answer the following question in the following manner:
Q: Have you ever taken money or drugs for sex, even once?It didn't go over well so I don't do that anymore.
A: Of course! I'm married!
The most disheartening change was there wasn't a cookie waiting for me after it was all over; they had Cheez-Its. I don't have anything against Cheez-Its. In fact, some of my favorite cracker-like snacks are cheese-like crackers. But, I wanted a cookie. Hell, I earned it! I mean, if I had known I wouldn't get a cookie I might not have made the effort!
Oh, well. At least I wasn't making a blood withdrawal.
*of two - and in the interest of full disclosure, I ran it in 4:45:03. I improved my time by ninety seconds when I ran the Cincinnati Flying Pigs Marathon roughly six months later in 4:43:37. I wouldn't want to be innacurate with regard to my marathon time. Sheesh, who would do that??
**Also, and there's no full disclosure here, I'm female.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
To Do List
Change light bulbs in kitchenClean top of refrigerator- Let light bulbs burn out in kitchen
- Top of refrigerator no longer exists
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Starbucks Smack Talk
I went to Starbucks today - a Saturday - and the patrons there were wearing their Saturday clothes. The weather was expected to be nice so there were flip flops, shorts, and spandex workout wear, people who hadn't combed their hair yet and weren't planning to, and people who could have been wearing their pajamas but were polite enough to get dressed first.
The exception to this scene was in line in front of me: a young woman, tastefully dressed as if she was on her way to work in a professional office. She wasn't severe; she wasn't wearing a suit. She was in a beautiful, flowered chiffon dress in colorful hues, four-inch-heeled pale green patent leather pumps, with a lemon sorbet colored cardigan sweater. She was about 30 years old, if I had to guess, and her blond hair was tied into a neat - not tight - bun. The most severe thing about her was her shade of lipstick.
She stood out from the rabble.
As it happens, I took a phone call in the time between when I placed my coffee order and when it was purveyed. As I chatted, the young blond woman received her order and, so, I assumed the next coffee proffered was mine. But, I wasn't sure. I twisted the cup around on the counter so I could see the markings that would identify its unique combination of milk, foam, and - what's the other ingredient? Oh, yes. Coffee.
The blond was very polite, not wanting to interrupt my cell phone conversation, and said, "I'm sorry, I think that's my coffee." I removed my hand, still chatting, as she turned to me, the devil now possessing her sweet face as she said, "DON'T TOUCH THAT!"
I was afraid for my life and fled from the store.
That could really happen in Seattle. And, it did, really. Right up until the point where I fled.
I got my coffee first.
The exception to this scene was in line in front of me: a young woman, tastefully dressed as if she was on her way to work in a professional office. She wasn't severe; she wasn't wearing a suit. She was in a beautiful, flowered chiffon dress in colorful hues, four-inch-heeled pale green patent leather pumps, with a lemon sorbet colored cardigan sweater. She was about 30 years old, if I had to guess, and her blond hair was tied into a neat - not tight - bun. The most severe thing about her was her shade of lipstick.
She stood out from the rabble.
As it happens, I took a phone call in the time between when I placed my coffee order and when it was purveyed. As I chatted, the young blond woman received her order and, so, I assumed the next coffee proffered was mine. But, I wasn't sure. I twisted the cup around on the counter so I could see the markings that would identify its unique combination of milk, foam, and - what's the other ingredient? Oh, yes. Coffee.
The blond was very polite, not wanting to interrupt my cell phone conversation, and said, "I'm sorry, I think that's my coffee." I removed my hand, still chatting, as she turned to me, the devil now possessing her sweet face as she said, "DON'T TOUCH THAT!"
I was afraid for my life and fled from the store.
That could really happen in Seattle. And, it did, really. Right up until the point where I fled.
I got my coffee first.
Finally
Yesterday, I went to the right Costco in the right city and got my replacement sunglasses. Finally.
As I made my way to the crowded entrance, I noticed there were several bike racks. Lots of them, in fact, I thought Good for Costco. Of course, I was in Portland but still - who's ever been to Costco on a bicycle?
As I made my way to the crowded entrance, I noticed there were several bike racks. Lots of them, in fact, I thought Good for Costco. Of course, I was in Portland but still - who's ever been to Costco on a bicycle?
Friday, September 7, 2012
Five Alarm Fire on Hayden Island
We went into Portland for dinner last night and saw this:
Photo by Zachary Kaufman
This was the Tunderbird Hotel just across the Columbia River from us on Hayden Island. It was still smoldering on Thursday night, after the fire broke out Sunday morning. We didn't arrive in town until Wednesday so we missed it but we our apartment is close enough we would have been able to see the smoke from our apartment had we been here. The river is within walking distance.
The building has been vacant since 2005 and The Columbian has reported the owner of the property owes back taxes of over $1 milllion dollars. Certainly sounds suspicious but the cause has yet to be determined.
The property is just west of I-5 and if a new bridge is ever built there, it would certainly impact this property. Many of the stores here have been vacant although there has been some recent construction that suggests someone thinks things will turn around in this area.
This fire was huge. More than one million gallons had been used on Sunday.
This two-minute video is a press conference in which all the statistics are mentioned. Pretty amazing.
I have some shopping to do on Hayden Island today. I'm sure there will still be some activity at the scene. It's been tying up traffic all week.
This was the Tunderbird Hotel just across the Columbia River from us on Hayden Island. It was still smoldering on Thursday night, after the fire broke out Sunday morning. We didn't arrive in town until Wednesday so we missed it but we our apartment is close enough we would have been able to see the smoke from our apartment had we been here. The river is within walking distance.
The building has been vacant since 2005 and The Columbian has reported the owner of the property owes back taxes of over $1 milllion dollars. Certainly sounds suspicious but the cause has yet to be determined.
The property is just west of I-5 and if a new bridge is ever built there, it would certainly impact this property. Many of the stores here have been vacant although there has been some recent construction that suggests someone thinks things will turn around in this area.
This fire was huge. More than one million gallons had been used on Sunday.
“We had to call the Water Bureau to make sure we weren’t depleting the city of all its water,” he said.Last night, we could see they were still pouring water on hot spots and during the night we could still smell the smoke in our apartment.
This two-minute video is a press conference in which all the statistics are mentioned. Pretty amazing.
I have some shopping to do on Hayden Island today. I'm sure there will still be some activity at the scene. It's been tying up traffic all week.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Black Cat
A black cat crossed my path today but it might have been worse for the cat since I was driving my car at the time. The cat's fine - made it to the other side of the road safely. Me? It's too early to tell but I was on my way to Starbucks to cash in my coupon for a free cup of coffee but when I got there I forgot all about the coupon and paid for the coffee instead.
It could be all downhill from here.
*** UPDATE ***
After Starbucks, I tried calling Costco optical to see if my glasses were in. (These were to replace the glasses I lost in the lake.) No on answered the phone but since I was across the street, I figured I would just go over there and ask them. Even though it was only 10 am, I had to wait 45 minutes before I could talk to someone. The nice young man told me the glasses were in but I was in the wrong Costco! I ordered them in a different city altogether! Crap - where am I anyway?
After that, I had a case of fumbleitis. I kept dropping everything but I bought a new pair of black shoes and that fixed everything.
It could be all downhill from here.
*** UPDATE ***
After Starbucks, I tried calling Costco optical to see if my glasses were in. (These were to replace the glasses I lost in the lake.) No on answered the phone but since I was across the street, I figured I would just go over there and ask them. Even though it was only 10 am, I had to wait 45 minutes before I could talk to someone. The nice young man told me the glasses were in but I was in the wrong Costco! I ordered them in a different city altogether! Crap - where am I anyway?
After that, I had a case of fumbleitis. I kept dropping everything but I bought a new pair of black shoes and that fixed everything.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Draft Day
6:48 pm - I am in Draft Central of the Hawks Nest Fantasy League with less than fifteen minutes before the first draft pick. Six of ten teams are represented here with the remaining four logging in from remote locations. These posts are live.
6:50 pm - The first round draft pick will go to Ghetto Punky's Posse, the only team in the league with a female owner. She is calm and cavalier just prior to the proceedings. She's either prepared herself very well or she just wants you to think she is. This reporter wishes her the best of luck.
6:59 pm - Food and drinks have been brought into Draft Central and team owners have staked their territories. Laptops have been set up and various reports are displayed on multiple monitors. The tension is mounting as we prepare for the first pick.
7:05 pm - Punkys Posse has taken Running Back Arian Foster in the first round. And, we are off and running!
7:08 pm - It is very quiet now in Draft Central as each team ranks their picks in anticipation of their next pick.
7:10 pm - Hubbys team is owner of On The Road Wanderers. He will be picking ninth. After the tenth team, pick order reverses and Road Wanderers will pick again in the twelfth position.
7:11 pm - On The Road Wanderers has picked Drew Brees as Quarterback (congratulations, Drew) and Lynch Marshawn at the Running Back position. (On The Road Wanderers immediately expressed regret for his last choice. Was it true regret or a chance to get inside the head of other Team Owners?)
7:15 pm - Southside Tony Toni Tone drafted Calvin Johnson at Wide Receiver which caused a stir in the Draft Room. This reporter heard from one Team Owner, "Suck it!" to which another replied, "That would be a good team name for you!" Things are heating up.....
7:17 pm - Punkys Posse drafted a much sought over Tight End, Jimmy Graham, which encited additional outbursts.
7:18 pm - As a side note to the proceedings, the owner of Southside Tony Toni Tone shared the first place prize in the Cornhole For Cash 2012. Good luck, Tony Toni Tone.
7:22 pm - Things are heating up physically as well as figuratively. Draft Central has western facing windows (that dont open) and the A/C has cut out. The available players left to select are thinning and Team Owners are voicing their anger when their top picks are stolen from them.
7:24 pm - I just heard one Team Owner accuse the others of stealing his scouting reports. Lets just hope it doesnt come to fisticuffs.
7:25 pm - As space was needed for Team Owners, this reporter was relegated to the broom closet for her report. The equipment here does not include an apostrophe..
7:27 pm - This reporter has just learned that Josh Brown, Kicker formerly for the Seattle Seahawks, then for the Rams, then for the Jets, is planning to return to Seattle for the rest of his career. This is an unconfirmed report.
7:41 pm - In an exclusive interview with Punky, I was able to get personal insight into the the leagues only female owner. I learned about shopping trends and personal preferences in shoes. Another team owner wondered aloud if we were seriously talking about shoes in the middle of The Draft. Indeed, we were! Since she picks first, then last, she has plenty of time to talk about fashion. (Do we see a Punky Posse sportswear line in the future??) Another owner predicted that Punky would end up kicking all their asses this season to which I responded, "Of course, she will, and shell be wearing awesome shoes when she does it!"
7:46 pm - This reporter has just heard a rumor that the Lake Stevens Sea Gals is owned by a conglomerate *** THIS JUST IN *** Punky has taken a kicker in the eighth round which has totally confounded other owners and caused a lot of talk. She has confirmed this move was to put everyone else off balance. *** (returning to our previuos post) *** of young women who have ALSO taken a kicker in the eighth round. One has to wonder if the women are working together.
7:54 pm - I just spoke with Team Up The Middle who is new to the League this year. His draft style is exclusively by the seat of his pants. Even as he formulates a strategy, he abandons it. By contrast, Team Thank God Al Toon Retired is researching even now after the midway point of the Draft. God is feeling very confident in his team and for good reason. Gods fantasy baseball team is in first place.
8:03 pm - Reggie Wayne went in the 11th round to Team In Like Flynn. (Flynns owner is also the Commissioner but this reporter detected no bias in the current proceedings.) I was there during the decision making process. Flynn has charts and lists posted all around him which he marks as players are eliminated from the draft. "Its time to get creative," he told me. When it was his turn to pick, I watched as he used his entire minute and a half for his selection, talking to himself as he made his choice. It was a tense moment as he selected as the clock nearly expired.
8:04 pm - Shouting now, as players are routinely stolen from other teams wish lists. "This is when leagues are made or broken," shouted the owner of The Road Wanderers.
8:09 pm - Tony Toni Tone is also feeling confident of his picks. His strategy so far has been to mess with everyone elses strategy. His prediction is that he will finish in the top half of the League this season. However, if a trophy was offered he thinks he could bring it home for the win. He did not offer what kind of footwear he might sport if he were to make it the the final playoffs.
8:11 pm - We are near the end of the draft now. Only a few picks left. Chatter is lighter, friendlier. Conversation now moves to trucks and mileage. I havent been able to communicate with the offsite teams. I wish them all the very best of luck."
8:17 pm - On The Road Warriors has made its last pick after which Team Owner Hubby wished the remaining owners lots of luck. Team owners are bottom-feeding now to complete their rosters and are expressing relief at its completion.
8:17 pm - God has four quarterbacks. I suppose he can have as many as he wants.
8:19 pm - Well, that about wraps things up. Punky will be the last to pick. Other owners are urging her to pick a kicker. She picks ... Bernard Scott, Running Back!
8:23 pm - There are no ceremonies to open the draft. There are no ceremonies, no parades, no over-the-top fanfare to conclude it. But every one in the room has sighed a sigh of relief and pushed back their chairs. And, now, the analysis begins amongst and between the owners.
Already, the smack talk is starting between The Wanderers and Punky in the first matchup and team owners are challenging the commissioner on league rules.
It should be an exciting season.
6:50 pm - The first round draft pick will go to Ghetto Punky's Posse, the only team in the league with a female owner. She is calm and cavalier just prior to the proceedings. She's either prepared herself very well or she just wants you to think she is. This reporter wishes her the best of luck.
6:59 pm - Food and drinks have been brought into Draft Central and team owners have staked their territories. Laptops have been set up and various reports are displayed on multiple monitors. The tension is mounting as we prepare for the first pick.
7:05 pm - Punkys Posse has taken Running Back Arian Foster in the first round. And, we are off and running!
7:08 pm - It is very quiet now in Draft Central as each team ranks their picks in anticipation of their next pick.
7:10 pm - Hubbys team is owner of On The Road Wanderers. He will be picking ninth. After the tenth team, pick order reverses and Road Wanderers will pick again in the twelfth position.
7:11 pm - On The Road Wanderers has picked Drew Brees as Quarterback (congratulations, Drew) and Lynch Marshawn at the Running Back position. (On The Road Wanderers immediately expressed regret for his last choice. Was it true regret or a chance to get inside the head of other Team Owners?)
7:15 pm - Southside Tony Toni Tone drafted Calvin Johnson at Wide Receiver which caused a stir in the Draft Room. This reporter heard from one Team Owner, "Suck it!" to which another replied, "That would be a good team name for you!" Things are heating up.....
7:17 pm - Punkys Posse drafted a much sought over Tight End, Jimmy Graham, which encited additional outbursts.
7:18 pm - As a side note to the proceedings, the owner of Southside Tony Toni Tone shared the first place prize in the Cornhole For Cash 2012. Good luck, Tony Toni Tone.
7:22 pm - Things are heating up physically as well as figuratively. Draft Central has western facing windows (that dont open) and the A/C has cut out. The available players left to select are thinning and Team Owners are voicing their anger when their top picks are stolen from them.
7:24 pm - I just heard one Team Owner accuse the others of stealing his scouting reports. Lets just hope it doesnt come to fisticuffs.
7:25 pm - As space was needed for Team Owners, this reporter was relegated to the broom closet for her report. The equipment here does not include an apostrophe..
7:27 pm - This reporter has just learned that Josh Brown, Kicker formerly for the Seattle Seahawks, then for the Rams, then for the Jets, is planning to return to Seattle for the rest of his career. This is an unconfirmed report.
7:41 pm - In an exclusive interview with Punky, I was able to get personal insight into the the leagues only female owner. I learned about shopping trends and personal preferences in shoes. Another team owner wondered aloud if we were seriously talking about shoes in the middle of The Draft. Indeed, we were! Since she picks first, then last, she has plenty of time to talk about fashion. (Do we see a Punky Posse sportswear line in the future??) Another owner predicted that Punky would end up kicking all their asses this season to which I responded, "Of course, she will, and shell be wearing awesome shoes when she does it!"
7:46 pm - This reporter has just heard a rumor that the Lake Stevens Sea Gals is owned by a conglomerate *** THIS JUST IN *** Punky has taken a kicker in the eighth round which has totally confounded other owners and caused a lot of talk. She has confirmed this move was to put everyone else off balance. *** (returning to our previuos post) *** of young women who have ALSO taken a kicker in the eighth round. One has to wonder if the women are working together.
7:54 pm - I just spoke with Team Up The Middle who is new to the League this year. His draft style is exclusively by the seat of his pants. Even as he formulates a strategy, he abandons it. By contrast, Team Thank God Al Toon Retired is researching even now after the midway point of the Draft. God is feeling very confident in his team and for good reason. Gods fantasy baseball team is in first place.
8:03 pm - Reggie Wayne went in the 11th round to Team In Like Flynn. (Flynns owner is also the Commissioner but this reporter detected no bias in the current proceedings.) I was there during the decision making process. Flynn has charts and lists posted all around him which he marks as players are eliminated from the draft. "Its time to get creative," he told me. When it was his turn to pick, I watched as he used his entire minute and a half for his selection, talking to himself as he made his choice. It was a tense moment as he selected as the clock nearly expired.
8:04 pm - Shouting now, as players are routinely stolen from other teams wish lists. "This is when leagues are made or broken," shouted the owner of The Road Wanderers.
8:09 pm - Tony Toni Tone is also feeling confident of his picks. His strategy so far has been to mess with everyone elses strategy. His prediction is that he will finish in the top half of the League this season. However, if a trophy was offered he thinks he could bring it home for the win. He did not offer what kind of footwear he might sport if he were to make it the the final playoffs.
8:11 pm - We are near the end of the draft now. Only a few picks left. Chatter is lighter, friendlier. Conversation now moves to trucks and mileage. I havent been able to communicate with the offsite teams. I wish them all the very best of luck."
8:17 pm - On The Road Warriors has made its last pick after which Team Owner Hubby wished the remaining owners lots of luck. Team owners are bottom-feeding now to complete their rosters and are expressing relief at its completion.
8:17 pm - God has four quarterbacks. I suppose he can have as many as he wants.
8:19 pm - Well, that about wraps things up. Punky will be the last to pick. Other owners are urging her to pick a kicker. She picks ... Bernard Scott, Running Back!
8:23 pm - There are no ceremonies to open the draft. There are no ceremonies, no parades, no over-the-top fanfare to conclude it. But every one in the room has sighed a sigh of relief and pushed back their chairs. And, now, the analysis begins amongst and between the owners.
Already, the smack talk is starting between The Wanderers and Punky in the first matchup and team owners are challenging the commissioner on league rules.
It should be an exciting season.
Labor Day
And labor we did. Actually, it wasn’t as bad as last time. We pulled the motor off the dinghy without too much trouble, even though the lake level is down about two feet. The boat on the other side of the finger pier was out so we pulled the dinghy into that slip and the hoisted it out onto the dock.
Hubby brought the pressure washer but we couldn’t use it because the boat on the other side of us was being varnished and the water was spraying too much. So we just used a hose and a brush and that worked fine. The bottom of the boat was brown when we pulled it, but it cleaned right up with much less effort than last time!
We rigged up some lines in the rafters and pulled the dinghy up to store for the winter and we took the motor home. We still have to disconnect the wash-down hose and drain the lines before winter but we think we’ll get a few more nice weekends before then.
Hubby brought the pressure washer but we couldn’t use it because the boat on the other side of us was being varnished and the water was spraying too much. So we just used a hose and a brush and that worked fine. The bottom of the boat was brown when we pulled it, but it cleaned right up with much less effort than last time!
We rigged up some lines in the rafters and pulled the dinghy up to store for the winter and we took the motor home. We still have to disconnect the wash-down hose and drain the lines before winter but we think we’ll get a few more nice weekends before then.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Boating Adventure # (n+1)
Went to the boat yesterday and found it had lost power. The batteries were low and we could only get one engine started. Luckily, we were able to get the second one started without too much fuss and we were on our way.
As we left the marina, I went below to get our lunches and found a small stream of water leaking from the refrigerator. Of course, it had defrosted! I grabbed a towel to mop things up and tentatively opened the refrigerator door and that's when things got really bad.
Not only had all the ice melted but the hamburgers which were frozen when we last left the boat were now thawed and rotting in the freezer, and meat juices were dripping everywhere. Oh, did it stink! (I think it smelled worse that our soiled dinghy!)
I shut the door and hoped it would all go away, disappear like a bad dream. But, it didn't so we dropped an anchor and went to work. I got towels, soapy water, and bleach while Hubby went to work cleaning the fender covers that got goopy on our last trip in salt water. Friends came by and asked if we needed any help. We shooed them away saying the chore was too disgusting to share and they sailed on their merry way.
The sun was out and it was, otherwise, a pleasant day and so we decided our efforts deserved a beer to cheer us in our unhappy tasks. That's when our day went from bad to worse - when we realized we were afloat, alone, with tepid alcohol and no ice! We nearly called Vessel Assist!
We thought this situation might constitute a new definition for "dry dock" but we recovered. We chilled a couple of brews in the freezer as we finished our smelly tasks and drank them in celebration of our survival of the day's ordeals.
Oh my, that was a close one!
As we left the marina, I went below to get our lunches and found a small stream of water leaking from the refrigerator. Of course, it had defrosted! I grabbed a towel to mop things up and tentatively opened the refrigerator door and that's when things got really bad.
Not only had all the ice melted but the hamburgers which were frozen when we last left the boat were now thawed and rotting in the freezer, and meat juices were dripping everywhere. Oh, did it stink! (I think it smelled worse that our soiled dinghy!)
I shut the door and hoped it would all go away, disappear like a bad dream. But, it didn't so we dropped an anchor and went to work. I got towels, soapy water, and bleach while Hubby went to work cleaning the fender covers that got goopy on our last trip in salt water. Friends came by and asked if we needed any help. We shooed them away saying the chore was too disgusting to share and they sailed on their merry way.
The sun was out and it was, otherwise, a pleasant day and so we decided our efforts deserved a beer to cheer us in our unhappy tasks. That's when our day went from bad to worse - when we realized we were afloat, alone, with tepid alcohol and no ice! We nearly called Vessel Assist!
We thought this situation might constitute a new definition for "dry dock" but we recovered. We chilled a couple of brews in the freezer as we finished our smelly tasks and drank them in celebration of our survival of the day's ordeals.
Oh my, that was a close one!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Taking Care of Business
I don't normally pay a lot of attention to lyrics unless I'm singing karaoke which I was, last night. It's really research. I have to do it (but that's a different story).
Along the way, I sang BTO's Taking Care of Business which lyrics include:
Along the way, I sang BTO's Taking Care of Business which lyrics include:
If you ever get annoyed
Look at me I'm self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day
. . .
It's the work that we avoid
And we're all self-employed
We love to work at nothing all day
Clearly, this should be the anthem for 76003dot1414.
(The rest of the lyrics are here.)
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Bumped
**THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED**
I got rear-ended in a car wash, of all places. It was one of those automated affairs where you put the car in neutral and rollers on a track push the car forward as brushes and high-pressured jets swirl around you. I was trying to clean the dash with a moistened towelette (similar to the kind of thing you might receive after eating shellfish at a restaurant) which only served to collect the tiny dust particles into larger dust pills. I'm not really sure I accomplished anything, interior-wise.
Just as I was nearly through the soapy tunnel, I felt a bump from behind. I think it was hard enough that I hit my head on the headrest although these things happen so quickly it's hard to remember. In fact, the first thing I thought was that I must have imagined it. It felt like I had been rear-ended but who gets rear-ended in a car wash? All I could see in my rear-view mirror were long-fingered, swirling red brushes.
Some emergency mechanism activated which shut the whole car wash down. The brushes slowed and then stopped, revealing my aggressor - a gold Chevrolet Malibu. I drove out of the tunnel and back to the office to report the incident and check for damage. The Malibu was trapped inside the car wash and I wasn't sure who I was more worried about at that point.
There was no damage to the car (which was Hubby's, not mine) that I could see but the car was still dirty because the car wash shut off before I was through it. They let me go through again but I made sure the other driver was out before I went in again. I certainly didn't need to be rear-ending anyone!
I chatted with the other driver afterwards and she thinks she just didn't get the car into neutral before her descent into our slippery slope. She didn't have her foot on the gas, but she unintentionally drove through the drive-thru wash. And, maybe she was trying to clean her dashboard as she wondered, "Gee, this wash is fast!"
I'm not hurt and the car is fine. But I might need to find a new car wash.
UPDATE: Hubby saw the car this morning and was not happy. He said he could see the outline of the other car's license plate in the bumper. I knew what he was talking about. There are two little holes in the bumper but they are so neat that it didn't occur to me that they weren't there by design. I didn't know what purpose they could possibly serve but there are many things I don't understand.
In the following image you can see little dents in the bumper outside of the dimples. You can't really tell from this view but from a straight-on view from the rear you can make out the shape of a license plate.
I should have known that a BMW-owner would be picky about his car. I guess I need to locate this other driver. She gave me her first name and place of employment so I'm headed there now to get her contact information, at least.
I got rear-ended in a car wash, of all places. It was one of those automated affairs where you put the car in neutral and rollers on a track push the car forward as brushes and high-pressured jets swirl around you. I was trying to clean the dash with a moistened towelette (similar to the kind of thing you might receive after eating shellfish at a restaurant) which only served to collect the tiny dust particles into larger dust pills. I'm not really sure I accomplished anything, interior-wise.
Just as I was nearly through the soapy tunnel, I felt a bump from behind. I think it was hard enough that I hit my head on the headrest although these things happen so quickly it's hard to remember. In fact, the first thing I thought was that I must have imagined it. It felt like I had been rear-ended but who gets rear-ended in a car wash? All I could see in my rear-view mirror were long-fingered, swirling red brushes.
Some emergency mechanism activated which shut the whole car wash down. The brushes slowed and then stopped, revealing my aggressor - a gold Chevrolet Malibu. I drove out of the tunnel and back to the office to report the incident and check for damage. The Malibu was trapped inside the car wash and I wasn't sure who I was more worried about at that point.
There was no damage to the car (which was Hubby's, not mine) that I could see but the car was still dirty because the car wash shut off before I was through it. They let me go through again but I made sure the other driver was out before I went in again. I certainly didn't need to be rear-ending anyone!
I chatted with the other driver afterwards and she thinks she just didn't get the car into neutral before her descent into our slippery slope. She didn't have her foot on the gas, but she unintentionally drove through the drive-thru wash. And, maybe she was trying to clean her dashboard as she wondered, "Gee, this wash is fast!"
I'm not hurt and the car is fine. But I might need to find a new car wash.
UPDATE: Hubby saw the car this morning and was not happy. He said he could see the outline of the other car's license plate in the bumper. I knew what he was talking about. There are two little holes in the bumper but they are so neat that it didn't occur to me that they weren't there by design. I didn't know what purpose they could possibly serve but there are many things I don't understand.
 |
| From Drop Box |
In the following image you can see little dents in the bumper outside of the dimples. You can't really tell from this view but from a straight-on view from the rear you can make out the shape of a license plate.
 |
| From Drop Box |
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Edge of Seventeen
I heard a story once on the radio of how Stevie Nicks came up with the title to this song. She was friends with Tom Petty and was asking his wife how the the couple met. Jane Petty replied that they met at the age of seventeen but in her southern drawl it sounded like "edge" of seventeen. Ms. Nicks thought that sounded like a cool idea for a song and there you have it.
As it happens, Blake Island is also on the edge of seventeen, that is, if you look at the Maptech Chartbook of Puget Sound. It's right there on page seventeen, just at the edge. See it there?
Something to keep that in mind the next time you're in Puget Sound.
As it happens, Blake Island is also on the edge of seventeen, that is, if you look at the Maptech Chartbook of Puget Sound. It's right there on page seventeen, just at the edge. See it there?
Something to keep that in mind the next time you're in Puget Sound.
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