"Do you always sit in the window seat on the wing side?"
20-something girl behind me on the airplane, talking to the 20-something man who was explaining how the wings change to slow the aircraft after landing.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Quote of the Last Week.
"But the cactus wants the brownie."
D, trying to explain why he should be allowed to throw food out the car window on the way through the desert to the airport.
D, trying to explain why he should be allowed to throw food out the car window on the way through the desert to the airport.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Push, Plow and Tow.
This is where Selma Lee was located this afternoon. I'd been having a small issues with getting her started... so when D wanted Josey to get parked in the garage, we put her in neutral and rolled her down the incline of our driveway and tried to get her turned and parked perpendicular... except the momentum only get us mostly there, not quite.While we're gone for over a week, holiday making in the Midwest, we wanted my dearest Selma in the garage... except there was still that small detail of her not wanting to start. Plus - one of the doors must have been a tidge ajar, because the battery had warn down.
First - we set up jumper cables and tried to get her started. We eventually gave up.
We then attached a tow rope on the hitching points under the front bumpers of both Selma and Josey and Josey slowly rolled backwards towing Selma as far up the drive as we could, while still allowing enough room for Josey to get free. That landed Selma mostly on the paved portion at the bottom of the above photo.
Josey then drove back around to the other side, and very slowly butted up against Selma. Due to their slightly different profiles - Josey's rear bumper slide up on top of Selma's, compressing her back suspension, and making contact with the plastic back light covers, partially breaking the mounting on one and sliding it back into the trunk - but it all worked none the less - and Selma got back up half way into the garage.
At that point - she was half way on level ground in the garage, and half way sloped downhill, so D backed Josey off of Selma Lee, the back end un-compressed, and we used our own force to push her the remaining way into the garage, to prevent the compression angle getting out of control if we'd pushed her all the way into the garage with Josey.
The slant of the driveway is too step to have pushed her up into the garage by ourselves - which is why we employed Josey. Selma weighs in right under two tones, and as we found out with Chad's car last weekend, when we needed to push his '82 300D about six inches farther up the driveway so his engine block heater could reach our pathetic attempts as creating an extension cord by connecting three surge protectors end to end, two tonnes on a slant needs a darn lot of force to move.
Good times.
Tomorrow, I install my own block heater, as well as do a bit of other work, so when we return she'll be a generally happier car.
I'd just like to extend a particularly strong Thank You to D for being a willing accomplice and particularly excellent and careful in the execution of said activities. It's hard to be delicate when driving an SUV, but he was.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The 20% List.
The following is a list of things that, if you do them, you pretty much need to tip 20%, if not a bit more.* Most servers are more than happy to humor you, but they don't expect to do it for 15%.
*Unless your server is rude - if your server is rude, 8-10% is always appropriate. Less then that and she's essentially paying taxes on a tip you never gave her - meaning she just paid the IRS for the privilege of serving you... doesn't sound like fun does it???
The 20% List
-> Allowing your child to smash Cheerios into every square inch of floor space beneath your table.
-> Asking absolutely ANY question about your server's personal life, or life history.
-> Telling your server she must be an actress, then insisting she's not Shakespeare Material, but continuing to refer to her as Cleopatra, without somehow realizing that Shakespeare wrote a Cleopatra.
-> Telling your server she reminds you of your best friend's, child's, teacher's, husband's, chiropractor's, third cousin twice removed, that you don't necessarily remember meeting, but isn't it just uncanny.
-> Asking for a specific server's section, by name.
-> Leaving your business card. (Like I'm going to pay a standard % to a Realtor who won't pay one to me).
-> Making your server an outside business offer. (You think I'm going to work for you, if this is what you consider appropriate compensation???)
-> Hand writing a Thank You note on your receipt. (A 20% tip is an adequate Thank You, I can't cash your note at the bank for that extra 5% you should have left).
-> Asking your server not to mention when you come in with your wife, that you were at the restaurant that night (with a different woman).
-> Leaving a whole stack of pens that advertise your business, but taking the one your server gave you to sign your credit card slip with.
-> Asking your server to recount the money you left to pay your bill because you're too drunk to do it yourself.
-> Continuing to sit in a restaurant, after every other customer has left, and you've already finished your meal, paid, and determined a new law of quantum physics via repeatedly refolding your copy of the credit card slip.
-> Sending your server to the kitchen to find out whether or not the oil used in each and every available salad dressing is hydrogenated, or not. Then commenting on how you'll have to tell you friend that, oh and can you have the fried potato chips with your sandwich.
-> Giving your server your single son's phone number.
-> Expressing your political views before looking up at your server expectantly. (If it shouldn't be discussed in polite conversation, your server deserves 20% to discuss it with you).
-> Leaving your server a religious pamphlet. (10% will not convert me you cheap piles of... sorry... they're always the worst tippers... those people with the little religious comic books!!!)
-> I should really stop this...
*Unless your server is rude - if your server is rude, 8-10% is always appropriate. Less then that and she's essentially paying taxes on a tip you never gave her - meaning she just paid the IRS for the privilege of serving you... doesn't sound like fun does it???
The 20% List
-> Allowing your child to smash Cheerios into every square inch of floor space beneath your table.
-> Asking absolutely ANY question about your server's personal life, or life history.
-> Telling your server she must be an actress, then insisting she's not Shakespeare Material, but continuing to refer to her as Cleopatra, without somehow realizing that Shakespeare wrote a Cleopatra.
-> Telling your server she reminds you of your best friend's, child's, teacher's, husband's, chiropractor's, third cousin twice removed, that you don't necessarily remember meeting, but isn't it just uncanny.
-> Asking for a specific server's section, by name.
-> Leaving your business card. (Like I'm going to pay a standard % to a Realtor who won't pay one to me).
-> Making your server an outside business offer. (You think I'm going to work for you, if this is what you consider appropriate compensation???)
-> Hand writing a Thank You note on your receipt. (A 20% tip is an adequate Thank You, I can't cash your note at the bank for that extra 5% you should have left).
-> Asking your server not to mention when you come in with your wife, that you were at the restaurant that night (with a different woman).
-> Leaving a whole stack of pens that advertise your business, but taking the one your server gave you to sign your credit card slip with.
-> Asking your server to recount the money you left to pay your bill because you're too drunk to do it yourself.
-> Continuing to sit in a restaurant, after every other customer has left, and you've already finished your meal, paid, and determined a new law of quantum physics via repeatedly refolding your copy of the credit card slip.
-> Sending your server to the kitchen to find out whether or not the oil used in each and every available salad dressing is hydrogenated, or not. Then commenting on how you'll have to tell you friend that, oh and can you have the fried potato chips with your sandwich.
-> Giving your server your single son's phone number.
-> Expressing your political views before looking up at your server expectantly. (If it shouldn't be discussed in polite conversation, your server deserves 20% to discuss it with you).
-> Leaving your server a religious pamphlet. (10% will not convert me you cheap piles of... sorry... they're always the worst tippers... those people with the little religious comic books!!!)
-> I should really stop this...
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
A little chat.
I had a pretty darn productive day - there were crystal views of the snow wrapped San Francisco Peaks as I returned from some errands, and I was in a great mood to go work at The Wine Bar and hit the gym.
The night started steady to slow - which was a good sign - a steady to slow night means I leave around 8:45 allowing all the time I need at the gym before it closes at 11pm.
I didn't make it to the gym tonight - I had a table of 6 parked on their tushes till 10:15 and to add insult to injury they only tipped 12%.
So let's have a quick discussion about tipping. Unlike what Mr. Pink says in Reservoir Dogs, servers really don't get paid by their restaurant to serve you - they pretty much only make tips. With the exception of California, Oregon, and a few others - servers make between $2.03 and $3.48 per hour. Technically, a restaurant has to make up the difference if your tips don't add up to minimum wage... technically. And servers pay tax on their tips, maybe not all of them, but if your reported tips are regularly under 8% of your total sales (and the restaurant is required to report average sales to the IRS) the IRS will come after you. All tips put on a credit card are automatically reported. If everyone pays me with a credit card one night, then all of my tips get reported and all my tips get taxed.
Servers don't rely on tips because they're used to getting them, they rely on tips because they'd be working a different job otherwise (nobody who's competent enough to serve well would work for minimum wage.. do you really want the sort of person who would work for minimum wage serving your food???).
When you go to tip a server most people Tip on Total. They base their tip almost entirely on a calculated percentage of their total bill.
But it's also important to Tip on Time. If you sit around talking for 2 hours and only ring up $15 worth of purchases - you are not leaving your server a good tip if you leave her $3. Yes - it's 20%... but in the mean time, she's still spent two hours refilling your water, and keeping an eye on you, just because you don't order a lot, doesn't mean she doesn't put in just as much work to take care of you. (We'll not even discuss the table turn she's missing).
Thirdly - you should Tip on Tolerance. What has your server had to tolerate???
Now, if your server is rude and obnoxious, then she hasn't been very tolerant, and the imperative to tip her based on it, is low - however, if she's tolerated quite a bit with good cheer and humor then you should compensate her for the tolerance of your childish behavior that she has shown.
Tip on Total.
Tip on Time.
Tip on Tolerance.
Please people - please!!!
I don't care when people sit forever in my section, I don't care when they don't order wine and spend pittance compared to what they might have. I'm not saying you should feel guilty going to a restaurant if you're not going to be the biggest spender. But you don't order the second most expensive thing on the menu, sit around past closing, even though you've already finished your wine and dessert, make a point to not let anyone else pay the bill - and then tip 12%.
That earns you bad Karma... bad, bad Karma.
The night started steady to slow - which was a good sign - a steady to slow night means I leave around 8:45 allowing all the time I need at the gym before it closes at 11pm.
I didn't make it to the gym tonight - I had a table of 6 parked on their tushes till 10:15 and to add insult to injury they only tipped 12%.
So let's have a quick discussion about tipping. Unlike what Mr. Pink says in Reservoir Dogs, servers really don't get paid by their restaurant to serve you - they pretty much only make tips. With the exception of California, Oregon, and a few others - servers make between $2.03 and $3.48 per hour. Technically, a restaurant has to make up the difference if your tips don't add up to minimum wage... technically. And servers pay tax on their tips, maybe not all of them, but if your reported tips are regularly under 8% of your total sales (and the restaurant is required to report average sales to the IRS) the IRS will come after you. All tips put on a credit card are automatically reported. If everyone pays me with a credit card one night, then all of my tips get reported and all my tips get taxed.
Servers don't rely on tips because they're used to getting them, they rely on tips because they'd be working a different job otherwise (nobody who's competent enough to serve well would work for minimum wage.. do you really want the sort of person who would work for minimum wage serving your food???).
When you go to tip a server most people Tip on Total. They base their tip almost entirely on a calculated percentage of their total bill.
But it's also important to Tip on Time. If you sit around talking for 2 hours and only ring up $15 worth of purchases - you are not leaving your server a good tip if you leave her $3. Yes - it's 20%... but in the mean time, she's still spent two hours refilling your water, and keeping an eye on you, just because you don't order a lot, doesn't mean she doesn't put in just as much work to take care of you. (We'll not even discuss the table turn she's missing).
Thirdly - you should Tip on Tolerance. What has your server had to tolerate???
Now, if your server is rude and obnoxious, then she hasn't been very tolerant, and the imperative to tip her based on it, is low - however, if she's tolerated quite a bit with good cheer and humor then you should compensate her for the tolerance of your childish behavior that she has shown.
Tip on Total.
Tip on Time.
Tip on Tolerance.
Please people - please!!!
I don't care when people sit forever in my section, I don't care when they don't order wine and spend pittance compared to what they might have. I'm not saying you should feel guilty going to a restaurant if you're not going to be the biggest spender. But you don't order the second most expensive thing on the menu, sit around past closing, even though you've already finished your wine and dessert, make a point to not let anyone else pay the bill - and then tip 12%.
That earns you bad Karma... bad, bad Karma.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Top 5's.
I'm going to partially steal D's idea and create a Top 5 Things (that were new in 2007), and Top 5 Things (that were known and still loved).
New (In the order they came into my life, not importance) -
1) Double Entry Accounting
I know it's weird but I'm totally in love.
2) Plasma Cutting
Learned in Welding Class.
3) Selma Lee
Particularly the three days I spent driving her home.
4) My Blog/D's Blog
Nothing beats learning unknown things about the person you're closest to, via a most public forum.
5) My Business
Not so much the having of it, or the deciding to get it, but the knowing that I wanted it.
Old (In no order whatsoever)
1) My Reading List
Kept since I was 14, now new and improved via Shelfari.com
2) Snad and Felipe
No qualifications necessary.
3) Desert Skies
Especially as seen from our desk. Especially when there are storms.
4) Ice Water
5) Zion Canyon
New (In the order they came into my life, not importance) -
1) Double Entry Accounting
I know it's weird but I'm totally in love.
2) Plasma Cutting
Learned in Welding Class.
3) Selma Lee
Particularly the three days I spent driving her home.
4) My Blog/D's Blog
Nothing beats learning unknown things about the person you're closest to, via a most public forum.
5) My Business
Not so much the having of it, or the deciding to get it, but the knowing that I wanted it.
Old (In no order whatsoever)
1) My Reading List
Kept since I was 14, now new and improved via Shelfari.com
2) Snad and Felipe
No qualifications necessary.
3) Desert Skies
Especially as seen from our desk. Especially when there are storms.
4) Ice Water
5) Zion Canyon
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Misc.
The last bags will ship tomorrow afternoon. So I turn my attention to new and expanded features for the business for 2008.
My last anti-biotic will be downed tomorrow morning.
I'm adjusting and tweaking my training program to better reflect where I am (and where I want to be).
I'm not the only one fighting the good fight with an old diesel Mercedes :)
Special note - the prodigious white smoke behind and the extension cord running to the engine in front.
(Also note that while mine can also bellow large quantities of white smoke - my sun roof doesn't open - which makes Selma Lee jealous of Ms. BioBertha... someday I tell you... someday.)
I'm taking stock of what I hoped to have done this year - what of it I've done, what I haven't, and what is worth attempting again in the new year - compared to what has been left by the wayside by more recent prioritizing.
It's always sad to me when something I nominally still want to do doesn't make it on the list simply because of adjusted priorities. If I just don't want to do it anymore... that's somehow less of a loss - even if I would have enjoyed myself had I gotten around to it when my interest was still there.
Details.
Also, this evening I may have employed my headlamp and a good mirror to get a totally new view of the recently traumatized areas at the back of my mouth - and that may have been highly educational - I won't go into details, but Dang!!!
My last anti-biotic will be downed tomorrow morning.
I'm adjusting and tweaking my training program to better reflect where I am (and where I want to be).
I'm not the only one fighting the good fight with an old diesel Mercedes :)
Special note - the prodigious white smoke behind and the extension cord running to the engine in front.
(Also note that while mine can also bellow large quantities of white smoke - my sun roof doesn't open - which makes Selma Lee jealous of Ms. BioBertha... someday I tell you... someday.)
I'm taking stock of what I hoped to have done this year - what of it I've done, what I haven't, and what is worth attempting again in the new year - compared to what has been left by the wayside by more recent prioritizing.
It's always sad to me when something I nominally still want to do doesn't make it on the list simply because of adjusted priorities. If I just don't want to do it anymore... that's somehow less of a loss - even if I would have enjoyed myself had I gotten around to it when my interest was still there.
Details.
Also, this evening I may have employed my headlamp and a good mirror to get a totally new view of the recently traumatized areas at the back of my mouth - and that may have been highly educational - I won't go into details, but Dang!!!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Training.
I'd sort of been giving myself a hard time about not training this week. I know I'd been instructed not to, but I've been feeling good, and worrying that I was using The Teeth as an excuse (during the busy holiday season when I have bags to get out the door, and other concerns to occupy my time) to not make training a priority and fit it in, somewhere.
Then I went to work at the restaurant tonight.
I don't work weekends (being Friday and Saturday night), when I was hired they were explicitly off limits, so I'd never have to worry about weekend trips (which is a bit odd in the service industry, not working weekends). However, we're a small place, we have eight servers, total, not on each shift. And since I was going to be in town this weekend anyway - I thought I ought to pick up the shift for a fellow coworker who's family was going to be in town. Especially considering I was literally the Only person who wasn't already working, and therefore the Only way he could have the night off.
We were busy - but not that busy. I'm not one of those servers that runs around with their head cut off. I'm good. I glide about the room with a genial and competent air bringing contented appeasement to all the guests who grace my section.
But apparently even my gliding was a bit too strenuous (perhaps it was the jaw and muscle stress of all those gracious smiles and lighthearted laughs at my customer's bad jokes), by the end of the night there was a significant throbbing sensation in all pertinent places - and I realized, even if everything seemed fine, there was a real and valid reason why I wasn't suppose to be working out this week.
I guess I'll give it a few more days.
Then I went to work at the restaurant tonight.
I don't work weekends (being Friday and Saturday night), when I was hired they were explicitly off limits, so I'd never have to worry about weekend trips (which is a bit odd in the service industry, not working weekends). However, we're a small place, we have eight servers, total, not on each shift. And since I was going to be in town this weekend anyway - I thought I ought to pick up the shift for a fellow coworker who's family was going to be in town. Especially considering I was literally the Only person who wasn't already working, and therefore the Only way he could have the night off.
We were busy - but not that busy. I'm not one of those servers that runs around with their head cut off. I'm good. I glide about the room with a genial and competent air bringing contented appeasement to all the guests who grace my section.
But apparently even my gliding was a bit too strenuous (perhaps it was the jaw and muscle stress of all those gracious smiles and lighthearted laughs at my customer's bad jokes), by the end of the night there was a significant throbbing sensation in all pertinent places - and I realized, even if everything seemed fine, there was a real and valid reason why I wasn't suppose to be working out this week.
I guess I'll give it a few more days.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Numbers.
I seem to be using a lot of numbers recently. I tend to find them illustrative. So I'll follow that trend, the number of the day today, being 17.
Yesterday I swallowed 17 pills.
4 I do every day, vitamins, calcium, etc.
13 relate to The Teeth.
Anti-pain, anti-inflammatory, anti-biotics... my body seems to be particularly hateful at the moment. And this all seems very odd to me - someone who's never broken a bone, never been admitted to a hospital, never even been taken to an emergency room.
Besides one previous course of antibiotics, I've never been prescribed medication to treat any illness or ailment...
I have a pretty darn boring medical history - and I was sort of hoping to keep it that way... details. The thing that's really starting to get me down is the inability to keep to the training schedule. I was going to join D at yoga tonight - thought it'd be a good break in, so long as I didn't do any of the upside-down work. Only to find out he was going on a long run ahead of time, and there's nothing I Should be doing that I could occupy that time with. I miss the gym!!!
That's probably sacrilege to some - but I can't help it, it's right up there with tortilla chips, malts drank through straws, and anything that involves chewing with my molars...
oh wait - I forgot, I have broken a bone... I mean what mountain biker hasn't broken their collar bone, right??? Except I broke mine when I was in my first day of life... and it wasn't me, it was the doctors... guess I don't get mountain biking street cred for that one :(
Yesterday I swallowed 17 pills.
4 I do every day, vitamins, calcium, etc.
13 relate to The Teeth.
Anti-pain, anti-inflammatory, anti-biotics... my body seems to be particularly hateful at the moment. And this all seems very odd to me - someone who's never broken a bone, never been admitted to a hospital, never even been taken to an emergency room.
Besides one previous course of antibiotics, I've never been prescribed medication to treat any illness or ailment...
I have a pretty darn boring medical history - and I was sort of hoping to keep it that way... details. The thing that's really starting to get me down is the inability to keep to the training schedule. I was going to join D at yoga tonight - thought it'd be a good break in, so long as I didn't do any of the upside-down work. Only to find out he was going on a long run ahead of time, and there's nothing I Should be doing that I could occupy that time with. I miss the gym!!!
That's probably sacrilege to some - but I can't help it, it's right up there with tortilla chips, malts drank through straws, and anything that involves chewing with my molars...
oh wait - I forgot, I have broken a bone... I mean what mountain biker hasn't broken their collar bone, right??? Except I broke mine when I was in my first day of life... and it wasn't me, it was the doctors... guess I don't get mountain biking street cred for that one :(
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Traveling.
The last time I had a tooth removed (I won't go into gory details, sorry about that last post) D and I were traveling... extended traveling. We'd been living out of Josey for a bit over a month, and one night, after we'd pulling into camp in either Little or Big (I don't remember which) Cottonwood Canyon, right out side of Salt Lake City I started feeling some really bad pain.
The next morning we drove into town and got bagels (and a phone book) at an Einstein's and waited for 8:30 to roll around and dentist's receptionists to start answering their phones. Despite being told "we're not taking new patients" quite a few times - I found an appointment for 2pm and gave up. D, realizing what pain I was in, kept calling till he found somewhere that'd take me at 11 (what a precious boy!!!). Off we went to the other side of SLC.
The dentist took a look at the x-rays I'd brought with me (from an appointment right before we left... the dentist thought they'd need to come out some time in the future, so I asked for a copy of the x-rays and brought them along in a folder of important information). The SLC dentist suggested I get sme pain meds and have it taken care of "when I got home". I then explained that when I said traveling I meant Traveling and home was no longer a specific location (I believe it was my dad who would jokingly offer our license plate number when someone asked for our address). At that point we agreed to take the tooth out right then - and I was at the dentist's office for just about an hour.
1 hour. 3 hours, between trying to find a dentist and having it done. Maybe 14 hours between pain and procedure.
This time around, it took 19 days.
I think in the future - when I need to have any dental work done, I'm going to lie and say I'm traveling.
Meanwhile - I feel great today, there's really minimal pain, my biggest problem is finding stuff to eat when I take my antibiotics as they make me a lil nauseous. And my biggest complaint is that, somehow, I have absolutely no desire for the carton of ice cream in the freezer, which I specifically got to be good post op food...
ah well.
The next morning we drove into town and got bagels (and a phone book) at an Einstein's and waited for 8:30 to roll around and dentist's receptionists to start answering their phones. Despite being told "we're not taking new patients" quite a few times - I found an appointment for 2pm and gave up. D, realizing what pain I was in, kept calling till he found somewhere that'd take me at 11 (what a precious boy!!!). Off we went to the other side of SLC.
The dentist took a look at the x-rays I'd brought with me (from an appointment right before we left... the dentist thought they'd need to come out some time in the future, so I asked for a copy of the x-rays and brought them along in a folder of important information). The SLC dentist suggested I get sme pain meds and have it taken care of "when I got home". I then explained that when I said traveling I meant Traveling and home was no longer a specific location (I believe it was my dad who would jokingly offer our license plate number when someone asked for our address). At that point we agreed to take the tooth out right then - and I was at the dentist's office for just about an hour.
1 hour. 3 hours, between trying to find a dentist and having it done. Maybe 14 hours between pain and procedure.
This time around, it took 19 days.
I think in the future - when I need to have any dental work done, I'm going to lie and say I'm traveling.
Meanwhile - I feel great today, there's really minimal pain, my biggest problem is finding stuff to eat when I take my antibiotics as they make me a lil nauseous. And my biggest complaint is that, somehow, I have absolutely no desire for the carton of ice cream in the freezer, which I specifically got to be good post op food...
ah well.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
.2 Ounces.
Well - I'm back from the oral surgeon and low and behold I still have my teeth.
They're sitting on a paper towel in front of me. I asked to keep them... though I'm not sure whether or not I'll put them under my pillow for the tooth fairy.
First off - teeth are really cool. And I love the sound they make when they knock against each other, or the table top - like the sound of a stone marble. What's not so cool is I keep tipping my head down to look at them, dripping blood infused saliva on the table... maybe I shouldn't have admitted that...
I was about to take a picture of my blood coated front teeth - looked pretty gruesome, but I thought I'd spare you that... primarily because I wouldn't have been able to avoid including some other part of my face in the picture - and most of you know the vehemence with which I avoid cameras.
Second off - (and the reason I asked to keep my teeth) I now weigh .2 ounces less. I asked the oral surgeon during my previous consultation and he couldn't tell me how much a tooth weighed - so I put one on the shipping scale... which didn't get me very far. Then I put all three on the scale and it grudgingly acknowledge a mere .2 ounces worth of tooth.
Third - he speculated that one of the reasons it was particularly difficult to remove my teeth last time, was that two of the three have three roots instead of two, which are easier to deal with (and let's admit it - these three roots aren't all grouped together in a polite cone shape, they're all ever so slightly flared, for maximum grip). One of them even has this thin, stubby tentacle of a fourth root. And while I know it made things slightly more difficult, I still want to applaud my teeth for their valiant effort at staying in place to do their job. I'm sorry little teeth, I didn't want to pull you, you made me!!!
I wish our camera took better macro shots - cause this little forth root is just adorable!!!
They're sitting on a paper towel in front of me. I asked to keep them... though I'm not sure whether or not I'll put them under my pillow for the tooth fairy.
First off - teeth are really cool. And I love the sound they make when they knock against each other, or the table top - like the sound of a stone marble. What's not so cool is I keep tipping my head down to look at them, dripping blood infused saliva on the table... maybe I shouldn't have admitted that...
I was about to take a picture of my blood coated front teeth - looked pretty gruesome, but I thought I'd spare you that... primarily because I wouldn't have been able to avoid including some other part of my face in the picture - and most of you know the vehemence with which I avoid cameras.
Second off - (and the reason I asked to keep my teeth) I now weigh .2 ounces less. I asked the oral surgeon during my previous consultation and he couldn't tell me how much a tooth weighed - so I put one on the shipping scale... which didn't get me very far. Then I put all three on the scale and it grudgingly acknowledge a mere .2 ounces worth of tooth.
Third - he speculated that one of the reasons it was particularly difficult to remove my teeth last time, was that two of the three have three roots instead of two, which are easier to deal with (and let's admit it - these three roots aren't all grouped together in a polite cone shape, they're all ever so slightly flared, for maximum grip). One of them even has this thin, stubby tentacle of a fourth root. And while I know it made things slightly more difficult, I still want to applaud my teeth for their valiant effort at staying in place to do their job. I'm sorry little teeth, I didn't want to pull you, you made me!!!
I wish our camera took better macro shots - cause this little forth root is just adorable!!!
Monday, December 10, 2007
See Italy First
This picture is being posted to officially document the decision of one of my sisters (we'll call her J) and myself to take a trip to Italy in 2009. (The picture is of our fridge).
What is currently known of The Trip -
-It will take place in the calendar year 2009
-J and myself will be present
-Others may or may not be present
-It will involve vineyards, beaches, and not too many museums
-Bicycles are currently slated as primary transportation
-There will be shopping (even if that involves shopping in bike shorts)
-Rome will not be included*
*(I'm holding Rome for someone who will museum hop with me)
Now that it has officially been announced on The Blog - J will not be able to allot her precious Vacation Days to any other situation (the weddings of her eight closest friends included)... if they really want you there they can wait, J!!!
What is currently known of The Trip --It will take place in the calendar year 2009
-J and myself will be present
-Others may or may not be present
-It will involve vineyards, beaches, and not too many museums
-Bicycles are currently slated as primary transportation
-There will be shopping (even if that involves shopping in bike shorts)
-Rome will not be included*
*(I'm holding Rome for someone who will museum hop with me)
Now that it has officially been announced on The Blog - J will not be able to allot her precious Vacation Days to any other situation (the weddings of her eight closest friends included)... if they really want you there they can wait, J!!!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Heathen Tree.
In the spirit of all that was best about England in the mid to late nineteenth century(and there wasn't a lot), D returned from his run today with approximately three feet of (probably unlawful) National Forest Service conifer.
According to last year's precedent - it was decorated with a set of lights, the two ornaments we received, and several long strands of beer bottle caps on hemp twine (the majority of which are a festive red color, courtesy of The New Belgium Brewery). As seen below - completed.
And D said he didn't want a tree this year... who's the scrooge, really???
According to last year's precedent - it was decorated with a set of lights, the two ornaments we received, and several long strands of beer bottle caps on hemp twine (the majority of which are a festive red color, courtesy of The New Belgium Brewery). As seen below - completed.
And D said he didn't want a tree this year... who's the scrooge, really???
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Insta-quote.
D - "I'll give you all the seconds you want, however the laws of thermodynamics will not."
To all those who are under the delusion that he consistently makes mini-masterpieces for dinner every night - this is what I got handed this evening...
To all those who are under the delusion that he consistently makes mini-masterpieces for dinner every night - this is what I got handed this evening...
Do you see what I see???
Disc Breaks for my 29er (fam: a 29er is a superior style of mountain bike with larger wheels for greater ease when rolling over obstacles). She's a Soma Juice and has been named Pomegranate. I call her Pom or PomPom for short.
I'm considering making D a shirt that says PomSquad - for him to wear when he supports me at races.
Insta-quote.
M - Hey, be nice, I'm still in pain ya know.
D - I have two things to say about that. If you can be as annoying as you've been for the last fifteen minutes, you're either not in enough pain, or not medicated enough.
D - I have two things to say about that. If you can be as annoying as you've been for the last fifteen minutes, you're either not in enough pain, or not medicated enough.
Very Nervous.
So - last week I went to the dentist due to some pain I was experiencing. Turns out I have a few wisdom teeth they'd like to get out of the way (one which is hurting, the other two cause they think it'll be fun)... which, as D determined two years ago when I had the first one removed, is a good thing (as you drop weight without losing muscle... at the time he told me it meant I had to hike faster, now I think it means I need to cycle faster :)
And mother - that's a joke - he doesn't actually expect me to get faster because I lost a couple of ounces worth of tooth - don't let dad worry it's another sign of coercion!!!
Anyway - today was going to be one, next Monday the two on the other side - so after some other confusion at the dentist's which left we waiting for over an hour through no fault of my own (I received a telephone call from my dentist's office asking me where I was, when I was sitting in their own waiting room... yeah - good times), they eventually had some difficultly getting my mouth appropriately numb.
I presume because of the confusion, I didn't have the dentist I saw before doing the actual extraction. I had this other guy... let's just say I'm not so fond of this Other Guy... he was not very sympathetic when I continued to feel pain despite some parts of my mouth already being numb... I tried to explain that the last two times I'd had dental work done they'd had to do several injections before everywhere became appropriately numb - he didn't seem to like being told things he thought he knew better than me...
in the end - he gave up and referred me to an oral surgeon. On the little card I'm suppose to give to the surgeon's office is a note that includes "very nervous". I am apparently one of those dental patients that is "very nervous" - despite the fact that I never felt Very Nervous and have previously had a tooth removed with no problem - I only wanted him to know about my previous experience... you'd think he'd appreciate my input. Apparently he took it to mean I was a bit hyped up and paranoid... seems to me I have a right to be when the local anesthesia doesn't actually block my pain!!!
This is the notecard - some of it got cut off when I scanned it - but i underlined the "very nervous" part...
He also just left me sitting there without explaining why I was being sent to an oral surgeon, what it meant, what he wanted done - or how it would effect the extraction of my other two wisdom teeth next week, which I would think is sort of an important consideration.
Details.
I think I'm more upset about being labeled Very Nervous than the fact that right now the right side of my mouth is both half numbed and in pain, at the same time.
Good job Dentist!!!
(I made sure Monday's appointment is with my Original Guy who is far superior in my mind to Other Guy.)
Monday, December 3, 2007
Insta-quote.
Idea stolen from The Blaze and Tink blog found at left... here's my quote of the day - pronounced by D about 45 seconds ago as he cooks me dinner (like usual) and I "work" and otherwise monopolize the computer (like usual)-
"Embittered is your default means of expression, when you're not thinking about it. Which - if you're 23, is not a good thing."
I think there might be some slight confusion in his mind between embittered and sarcastic...
details.
"Embittered is your default means of expression, when you're not thinking about it. Which - if you're 23, is not a good thing."
I think there might be some slight confusion in his mind between embittered and sarcastic...
details.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The beginning of the story.
So awhile ago there was that crazy post with the pictures of D, myself and P huddling under a space blanket in a handicap bathroom... going through some long un-catagorized picture files today I realized I never showed the beginning of that thrilling adventure!!!
Like this multi-stage rappel... you can see me starting down this relatively short rap -
but then you see P right below me getting ready to set up yet another rappel (that's why it's multi-stage... there were multiple stages :) One Rap right after another with no where to go between them but down - once you get started you either finish the series or sit on a small ledge waiting to get rescued...
This is P approaching a rap station (he'd waited to the right on a larger ledge while D went down first.
It wasn't all Rappeling - there was some good downclimbing too... though I'm not sure if I'm happy about that or not???
It was a pretty stellar canyon all around. And the threatening clouds only drizzled slightly all day... always a plus!!!
Like this multi-stage rappel... you can see me starting down this relatively short rap -
but then you see P right below me getting ready to set up yet another rappel (that's why it's multi-stage... there were multiple stages :) One Rap right after another with no where to go between them but down - once you get started you either finish the series or sit on a small ledge waiting to get rescued...
This is P approaching a rap station (he'd waited to the right on a larger ledge while D went down first.
It wasn't all Rappeling - there was some good downclimbing too... though I'm not sure if I'm happy about that or not???
It was a pretty stellar canyon all around. And the threatening clouds only drizzled slightly all day... always a plus!!!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Thinking about Thanksgiving...
Two years ago, November of 2005, I had what was probably the best, though at moments worst, Thanksgiving of my life (funny how more and more often I realize those feelings seem to be paired). I had graduated college in May and D and I had stayed in Iowa over the summer so he could continue employment to stock pile a little more money. We then left to travel the West living out of, or should I say IN, our Josey the XTerra. We left via The Boundary Waters, across the Northern States,
to visit my sissy, who at the time was living in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Then we turned south and made our way to The Robber's Roost for Thanksgiving with several Utahan's we'd known since D's (and then my) time in Utah right after he graduated, and right after we got married. That was before we returned to Iowa for me to finish my senior year at Grinnell.
We'd also managed to introduce our old Moab roommate to a dear friend of ours from Grinnell - who joined us in The Roost from Iowa for a few days (that included her b-day),
as well as a few other odd Canyoneer co-conspirators from Arizona and Colorado - add a nice camping spot in the red dirt and juniper trees and life seemed nice.
I don't remember exactly how long we were out there (four of us were there a couple weeks with others coming and going)... but there were lots of canyons and on Thanksgiving day we sat around all afternoon on camp chairs and large logs and used the top of a cooler as a cutting board, as the fire was prepared and fowl and veggies were cooked in a dutch oven, then spread with fresh cranberry jam and goodness knows what else, on the tailgate of a pickup truck for us to all dig in.
Phillip running with a wet chicken...
D was drinking Quebecois beer from the DABC... aka - State Liquor Store - we'd gotten on our run into town to watch the latest Harry Potter movie the week before. And talking in his funny French accent... after we cleaned out the dutch oven I diced up apples and used the oven to cook cobbler while our stomachs settled and the sun set.
We enjoyed ourselves.
The day before D and I had gone on a short hike/canyoneering bit... down a short fork of a canyon and up another... except we missed the fork we were suppose to go up, it started raining, I wasn't feeling well (stomach ache if I remember/though maybe just nerves) and we ended up doing some awkward and strenuous up-climbing in a very narrow but deep canyon as a small stream of water running down the rock started getting bigger - making everything more difficult, both physically and mentally.
It rings in my mind as having the highest quotient of anguish to hours of any outting I've ever participated in. It sharply contrasted with the relaxation and friendship that defined Thanksgiving day itself.
This year we were suppose to arrange another Turkey Day with A and P... maybe in Death Valley (which holds good memories for the four of us), maybe Joshua Tree, finally life made it look like the closer Grand Canyon was going to be the destination - but in the end, four different people had four different priorities that had to overtake our desire to spend a few more choice days together. Which is unfortunate - I would have enjoyed their company, but my life was calling me to stay home as much as theirs... we'll have another Thanksgiving like 2005... but not this year.
This year had it's benefits and relaxation too - but in a different way. Which has me thinking about the holidays and the benefits of extended circles of family/friends, as well as the benefits of drawing the family line as close as possible and sharing long moments with those closest, that don't always happen in the middle of the Usual Schedule of Life.
Hope you two had a good holiday A and P - we missed you!!!
to visit my sissy, who at the time was living in Sun Valley, Idaho.Then we turned south and made our way to The Robber's Roost for Thanksgiving with several Utahan's we'd known since D's (and then my) time in Utah right after he graduated, and right after we got married. That was before we returned to Iowa for me to finish my senior year at Grinnell.We'd also managed to introduce our old Moab roommate to a dear friend of ours from Grinnell - who joined us in The Roost from Iowa for a few days (that included her b-day),
as well as a few other odd Canyoneer co-conspirators from Arizona and Colorado - add a nice camping spot in the red dirt and juniper trees and life seemed nice.I don't remember exactly how long we were out there (four of us were there a couple weeks with others coming and going)... but there were lots of canyons and on Thanksgiving day we sat around all afternoon on camp chairs and large logs and used the top of a cooler as a cutting board, as the fire was prepared and fowl and veggies were cooked in a dutch oven, then spread with fresh cranberry jam and goodness knows what else, on the tailgate of a pickup truck for us to all dig in.
Phillip running with a wet chicken...
D was drinking Quebecois beer from the DABC... aka - State Liquor Store - we'd gotten on our run into town to watch the latest Harry Potter movie the week before. And talking in his funny French accent... after we cleaned out the dutch oven I diced up apples and used the oven to cook cobbler while our stomachs settled and the sun set.
We enjoyed ourselves.
The day before D and I had gone on a short hike/canyoneering bit... down a short fork of a canyon and up another... except we missed the fork we were suppose to go up, it started raining, I wasn't feeling well (stomach ache if I remember/though maybe just nerves) and we ended up doing some awkward and strenuous up-climbing in a very narrow but deep canyon as a small stream of water running down the rock started getting bigger - making everything more difficult, both physically and mentally.
It rings in my mind as having the highest quotient of anguish to hours of any outting I've ever participated in. It sharply contrasted with the relaxation and friendship that defined Thanksgiving day itself.
This year we were suppose to arrange another Turkey Day with A and P... maybe in Death Valley (which holds good memories for the four of us), maybe Joshua Tree, finally life made it look like the closer Grand Canyon was going to be the destination - but in the end, four different people had four different priorities that had to overtake our desire to spend a few more choice days together. Which is unfortunate - I would have enjoyed their company, but my life was calling me to stay home as much as theirs... we'll have another Thanksgiving like 2005... but not this year.
This year had it's benefits and relaxation too - but in a different way. Which has me thinking about the holidays and the benefits of extended circles of family/friends, as well as the benefits of drawing the family line as close as possible and sharing long moments with those closest, that don't always happen in the middle of the Usual Schedule of Life.
Hope you two had a good holiday A and P - we missed you!!!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Umm..
D and I have come to realize a major problem that may block our future together.
I refuse to perpetuate a belief in the Americanized Super-Consumer Santa Claus Myth with any and all future children we may have.
For this- D has labeled me a Scrooge.
I won't elucidate all my reasons for this here... but let's just say - if D wants pathetic susceptible children to lie to and coddle - then he can have them , just not with me!!!
Granted we have maybe a good decade still till this needs to be resolved... but it's never too soon to stake your ground.
I refuse to perpetuate a belief in the Americanized Super-Consumer Santa Claus Myth with any and all future children we may have.
For this- D has labeled me a Scrooge.
I won't elucidate all my reasons for this here... but let's just say - if D wants pathetic susceptible children to lie to and coddle - then he can have them , just not with me!!!
Granted we have maybe a good decade still till this needs to be resolved... but it's never too soon to stake your ground.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
No Snuffalaphagus... No!!!
Straight up.
They should leave the warnings for the lead painted toys... but no - the first couple seasons of Sesame Street (now available on DVD) come with Caution.
They should leave the warnings for the lead painted toys... but no - the first couple seasons of Sesame Street (now available on DVD) come with Caution.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Like a raccoon.
"It's bouncy and shinny - what more do you want???"
-D (admonishing me for not being excited enough about my new wheel)
What I am excited about... (I have a couple postcards prepared...)
Thursday, November 1, 2007
I'm heartbroken!!!
Yesterday (not even knowing what was going to happen at midnight!!!) I had thoughts of TransIowa in my head... prompted primarily by a conversation D and I had at dinner on Tuesday, about our schedule and goals for the next six months or so...
he has a lot of different races lined up - both trail running and mountain biking (why he can't just use a road, I'll never understand :)... but I have only one. TransIowa (version 4).
So I went to the hole in the wall bike shop in DownTown yesterday to request the owner build me a front wheel for the bike I'll be riding for TI v4. I have a back wheel, but no front.
Well I forgot what it's like to try to get a hold of this guy... the only person in town whom I'd let build my wheel... his phone doesn't have an answering machine, and despite his shop hours being listed as 9am to 4pm - in reality they're usually more like 10am to 2pm. So I dropped by at 12:45. Door Locked.
I was distressed. I tried calling him later while I was running other errands DownTown - but the phone was never answered...
so - to quash my distress I decided to head over to my favorite Thrift Store and find some books with good pictures and photos
(SelmaLee approved of the result) that I could use to create my own postcards for my TransIowa entry... last year they had a lottery system where you could send in as many postcards as you wanted for a random drawing - the more you sent in the more likely you were to be drawn. They had already mentioned postcards on the website this year - so it was something I could dwell on to lift my spirits... gotta love a craft project with a real purpose!!!
It happened the system wasn't needed last year - as they didn't reach their 100 person limit and all those who entered got to participate.
I spent two hours last night going through my new books (including the one at right, which is nothing but full page, color ads from the 60's - talk about a great find!!!) and cutting out choice pictures for use as/in postcards.
The TransIowa website was going to have a Big Surprise up at midnight on Halloween - but when I got back from the gym last night I was too tired and went straight to bed. When D got up this morning he woke me to say they'd opened registration!!! Perfect timing!!!
Except they've changed the rules.
No more lottery - no more multiple postcards. They're accepting one postcard per person on a first come first served basis for entry in the race :(
What are I supposed to do with all my extra pictures???
I think I might cry.
he has a lot of different races lined up - both trail running and mountain biking (why he can't just use a road, I'll never understand :)... but I have only one. TransIowa (version 4).
So I went to the hole in the wall bike shop in DownTown yesterday to request the owner build me a front wheel for the bike I'll be riding for TI v4. I have a back wheel, but no front.
Well I forgot what it's like to try to get a hold of this guy... the only person in town whom I'd let build my wheel... his phone doesn't have an answering machine, and despite his shop hours being listed as 9am to 4pm - in reality they're usually more like 10am to 2pm. So I dropped by at 12:45. Door Locked.
I was distressed. I tried calling him later while I was running other errands DownTown - but the phone was never answered...
so - to quash my distress I decided to head over to my favorite Thrift Store and find some books with good pictures and photos
(SelmaLee approved of the result) that I could use to create my own postcards for my TransIowa entry... last year they had a lottery system where you could send in as many postcards as you wanted for a random drawing - the more you sent in the more likely you were to be drawn. They had already mentioned postcards on the website this year - so it was something I could dwell on to lift my spirits... gotta love a craft project with a real purpose!!!It happened the system wasn't needed last year - as they didn't reach their 100 person limit and all those who entered got to participate.
I spent two hours last night going through my new books (including the one at right, which is nothing but full page, color ads from the 60's - talk about a great find!!!) and cutting out choice pictures for use as/in postcards.
The TransIowa website was going to have a Big Surprise up at midnight on Halloween - but when I got back from the gym last night I was too tired and went straight to bed. When D got up this morning he woke me to say they'd opened registration!!! Perfect timing!!!
Except they've changed the rules.
No more lottery - no more multiple postcards. They're accepting one postcard per person on a first come first served basis for entry in the race :(
What are I supposed to do with all my extra pictures???
I think I might cry.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Better or Worse???
Not exactly Smoky the Bear...
I think the Victory Garden posters were a slightly better idea.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Out of action.
Selma Lee's temporary registrations have run out. I don't have all the paperwork back yet to get her properly registered - so for the moment she is illegal to drive :(
D's parents are in town for the week and came up with the great idea of having me "sell" the car to D and then maybe we could get another series of temporary registration tags... the Arizona DOT website has so far been unhelpful as to whether the alloted number of temporary registrations is limited to each owner or each car...
D's parents are in town for the week and came up with the great idea of having me "sell" the car to D and then maybe we could get another series of temporary registration tags... the Arizona DOT website has so far been unhelpful as to whether the alloted number of temporary registrations is limited to each owner or each car...
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Sexism.
So why is it when a man comes home from a long day, grabs potato chips and plots down in front of a game on the tele and eats the whole bag without thinking about it, it's just "Oh, those boys will eat anything" but when a woman comes home, grabs a pint of ice cream and watches reruns of Sex In The City, it's "Oh, poor thing, she's such a wreck right now."
Why is women's emotive eating somehow a negative, but men's emotive eating isn't emotive eating, it's just "The way they are".
I'm calling all you men on it... you're just as bad as us!!!
(Now I'm going to the grocery store to buy some cookie dough...)
Why is women's emotive eating somehow a negative, but men's emotive eating isn't emotive eating, it's just "The way they are".
I'm calling all you men on it... you're just as bad as us!!!
(Now I'm going to the grocery store to buy some cookie dough...)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Discovering New music I've always had.
So we have two laptops (well three really, but the super old Apple- back when they were still Black- that was D's college computer is in another state and therefore doesn't count)... and they've been having fun making the rounds in and out of the local computer repair place. We only ever installed iTunes on the newer one (bought for a couple hundred dollars on eBay when JellyBean died) which D christened PooBean cause he doesn't like it as much.
Now PooBean is in the shop- and will be at least till the beginning of next week when the owner of the shop/the guy who does the soldering, returns from Haiti!!! where he's installing a solar panel project.
In the mean time- iTunes got installed on JellyBean so D could charge MoPo (his iPod Shuffle)- and apparently iTunes automatically integrates whatever music files are already on your computer, into your iTunes Library.
So way back in the day I allowed my brother to borrow JellyBean for a weekend roadtrip he was taking with a friend. Well his friend brought an external hard drive along with music and movies on it- to play on the laptop. My brother- liking a lot of the music- had his friend download his entire collection onto my computer... it was quite a bit of music, and knowing I liked a lot of it, I left it all on, thinking I'd eventually go through it and figure out what I wanted deleted.
The major problem with doing so- was the large number of files uploaded from CD's without any greater identification than Track 08 or Track 12, etc. No artist, no album, all it says is the length of the song and what track number it is. Some years ago I tried to go through some of these- but eventually lost interest- which now leaves a long list in my iTunes library of unidentified music which I'm slowly making sense of- by listening to the song till I can comprehend a length of fairly unique lyrics, I then Google said lyrics and relabel the file based on what I find.
The last four identified songs-
Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper
Shorty Wanna be a Thug by Tupac Shakur
LoveSong by The Cure
Warning by Incubus
What???
Now PooBean is in the shop- and will be at least till the beginning of next week when the owner of the shop/the guy who does the soldering, returns from Haiti!!! where he's installing a solar panel project.
In the mean time- iTunes got installed on JellyBean so D could charge MoPo (his iPod Shuffle)- and apparently iTunes automatically integrates whatever music files are already on your computer, into your iTunes Library.
So way back in the day I allowed my brother to borrow JellyBean for a weekend roadtrip he was taking with a friend. Well his friend brought an external hard drive along with music and movies on it- to play on the laptop. My brother- liking a lot of the music- had his friend download his entire collection onto my computer... it was quite a bit of music, and knowing I liked a lot of it, I left it all on, thinking I'd eventually go through it and figure out what I wanted deleted.
The major problem with doing so- was the large number of files uploaded from CD's without any greater identification than Track 08 or Track 12, etc. No artist, no album, all it says is the length of the song and what track number it is. Some years ago I tried to go through some of these- but eventually lost interest- which now leaves a long list in my iTunes library of unidentified music which I'm slowly making sense of- by listening to the song till I can comprehend a length of fairly unique lyrics, I then Google said lyrics and relabel the file based on what I find.
The last four identified songs-
Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper
Shorty Wanna be a Thug by Tupac Shakur
LoveSong by The Cure
Warning by Incubus
What???
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Scorpions!!!
A few days ago (D and I are debating which day exactly as neither of us is for sure)- D found a scorpion in the sink when he went to brush his teeth in the morning. He grabbed the boiling water he was using to make coffee with, and thought he drown the little guy as he washed him down the drain.
Last night- this is what I found in the same sink...
I got him to walk into a small box, took him outside and flung him off the deck...
we'll see if our friend makes it back this time.
Last night- this is what I found in the same sink...
I got him to walk into a small box, took him outside and flung him off the deck...
we'll see if our friend makes it back this time.
Monday, September 17, 2007
I'll show You a fungal infestation...
but I already did some time ago-
for the past few weeks I've been purposely not topping off my tank... so that today I would have fewer then 10 gallons of diesel left (the capacity of my two fuel cans) and could re-siphon my baby's fuel tank to see how effective the previous flush and application of Bio-Bor were in eliminating the fungal/bacterial infestation.
Just look at that perfectly clear hose!!! Not one BIT of greenish brown sludge... no particles, no huge clumps, no residue on the end of the siphon hose after pushing it along the bottom of the tank looking for any hold-outs.
It's very difficult to get every bit of bacteria removed, and even after full flushes it's common for an infestation to return- I think that means that I have my very first example of Selma Lee being Lucky :)
Last time I siphoned the fuel- I only put a few gallons back in, then kept the rest in a fuel can in the trunk. I wanted to run out of diesel- to see whether my fuel gauge would be true right to the end- and to determine at what point my fuel light would come on. While at the same time having a stash of diesel ready, in the car, when it did happen. Well the light never came on- but the fuel gauge behaved as it should have.
Then last month I ran out of fuel, half way to work, when the gauge indicated about half a tank.
Today I siphoned out about eight gallons. I put five back in- which should be right at 1/4 of a tank... we'll see if that's indicated when I start her up later. The other three gallons are in the backseat for when I need them... we'll see how the experiment goes this time. I may be replacing my fuel sensor in the near future.
While I was waiting for all that fuel to siphon- I went at the windows again. Over the weekend I got most of the inside of the front windshield cleaned... today I tackled some of the door windows.
It's harder then you'd think-
I start by using Windex to clean off any dirt. Then I go over the window in three to four inch square sections- spraying Simple Green on the square being addressed, then wiping in 1 inch diameter circular motions till that one spot is dry- using a new, dry section of paper towel for each inch.
It's an oily residue- and the only way to address it is to get it caught up in large amounts of Simple Green and then use the dry towel to soak up the combined mixture. If you use a wet bit of towel you'll just smear the oily substance that's on the towel back onto the window. If you don't have enough Simple Green on the spot- then you just smear the oil into new patterns.
Each little circle must be dry before you more to the next inch- or residue will be left that will later be smeared onto other "clean" areas.
After that I come back with the Windex to remove any streaks left by the Simple Green.
This works for the inside of the windows... which I presume are in this state from when someone tried to remove the dark tint (clearly a cheap after-market job) that can still be found in some corners where it didn't all come off.
The outside of the windows however- are a little more difficult. I can't get a good picture of it- but it looks like there are little watermarks- like would be left over after rain, covering the windows... but it won't come off for anything- it almost seems like it's inside the glass...
investigations will commence.
for the past few weeks I've been purposely not topping off my tank... so that today I would have fewer then 10 gallons of diesel left (the capacity of my two fuel cans) and could re-siphon my baby's fuel tank to see how effective the previous flush and application of Bio-Bor were in eliminating the fungal/bacterial infestation.
Just look at that perfectly clear hose!!! Not one BIT of greenish brown sludge... no particles, no huge clumps, no residue on the end of the siphon hose after pushing it along the bottom of the tank looking for any hold-outs.
It's very difficult to get every bit of bacteria removed, and even after full flushes it's common for an infestation to return- I think that means that I have my very first example of Selma Lee being Lucky :)
Last time I siphoned the fuel- I only put a few gallons back in, then kept the rest in a fuel can in the trunk. I wanted to run out of diesel- to see whether my fuel gauge would be true right to the end- and to determine at what point my fuel light would come on. While at the same time having a stash of diesel ready, in the car, when it did happen. Well the light never came on- but the fuel gauge behaved as it should have.
Then last month I ran out of fuel, half way to work, when the gauge indicated about half a tank.
Today I siphoned out about eight gallons. I put five back in- which should be right at 1/4 of a tank... we'll see if that's indicated when I start her up later. The other three gallons are in the backseat for when I need them... we'll see how the experiment goes this time. I may be replacing my fuel sensor in the near future.
While I was waiting for all that fuel to siphon- I went at the windows again. Over the weekend I got most of the inside of the front windshield cleaned... today I tackled some of the door windows.
It's harder then you'd think-
I start by using Windex to clean off any dirt. Then I go over the window in three to four inch square sections- spraying Simple Green on the square being addressed, then wiping in 1 inch diameter circular motions till that one spot is dry- using a new, dry section of paper towel for each inch.
It's an oily residue- and the only way to address it is to get it caught up in large amounts of Simple Green and then use the dry towel to soak up the combined mixture. If you use a wet bit of towel you'll just smear the oily substance that's on the towel back onto the window. If you don't have enough Simple Green on the spot- then you just smear the oil into new patterns.
Each little circle must be dry before you more to the next inch- or residue will be left that will later be smeared onto other "clean" areas.
After that I come back with the Windex to remove any streaks left by the Simple Green.
This works for the inside of the windows... which I presume are in this state from when someone tried to remove the dark tint (clearly a cheap after-market job) that can still be found in some corners where it didn't all come off.
The outside of the windows however- are a little more difficult. I can't get a good picture of it- but it looks like there are little watermarks- like would be left over after rain, covering the windows... but it won't come off for anything- it almost seems like it's inside the glass...
investigations will commence.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Selma Lee made a friend
So D is going up to Moab this weekend for some cycling.
He'll be accompanied by a gentleman he's ridden with before, who drove up from Down South to meet at our house so they could travel in Josey together... he drove up in a 1982 Mercedes 300D named BioBertha. (Here's a hint- she runs on BioDiesel)
I would post a picture- but D has the camera.
Anyway- SelmaLee now has a friend in the drive way- and they're both blue...
they're so cute...
okady- that's enough.
He'll be accompanied by a gentleman he's ridden with before, who drove up from Down South to meet at our house so they could travel in Josey together... he drove up in a 1982 Mercedes 300D named BioBertha. (Here's a hint- she runs on BioDiesel)
I would post a picture- but D has the camera.
Anyway- SelmaLee now has a friend in the drive way- and they're both blue...
they're so cute...
okady- that's enough.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The rest of the trip...
I strangled a Grizzly Bear.
Hiked in heals.
Dangled precariously over Lake Tahoe.
And read- what some people call Classics- but are really just turn of the century Romance Novels... oh fine- they have, like, poetic language and moral implications... I didn't say they were Trashy Romance Novels...
whatever.
Hiked in heals.
Dangled precariously over Lake Tahoe.
And read- what some people call Classics- but are really just turn of the century Romance Novels... oh fine- they have, like, poetic language and moral implications... I didn't say they were Trashy Romance Novels...
whatever.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tenaya Canyon Happy Fun Time
So we drove up through California- avoiding Las Vegas. And got into the Owen's Valley Friday night and to Erik Schat's Bakery Saturday morning for breakfast and Energy Loaf, Almond Pound Cake and their super tasty 19 1/2 grain bread... okady- so I don't remember how many grains are in it, but there's a lot and they include whole lentils...
it's some serious, chunky, delicious bread.
So we sat out at their tables and ate breakfast about 10 minutes after they opened. On the edge of the main street through Bishop.
Then we drove the rest of the way to Tioga Pass and the Tuolumne Meadows side of Yosemite- which we had previously not been able to visit. We did a short hike Saturday afternoon before grabbing a camp site for the night.
Below is Tuolumne River- which we hiked down to and then followed back up for some time on the granite "slickrock" that channeled a long series of cascades.
After watching our neighbors teach their seven year old son how to throw knives (at a tree in the campground) we went to bed early for the Tenaya Canyon Happy Fun Time that was suppose to start bright and early the next morning.
We followed Tenaya Creek which, similar to Tuolumne River, has smooth Granite banks up in the meadow lands. We followed a feint trail through thick groves of trees, some grassy swamp lands, and along the exposed rock when possible. D decided to "Be the Rock" with a particularly round boulder which stranded itself along a stretch of granite bank.
Eventually we were forced to start moving Down. With the first major constriction of rock around the creek we headed to the left, climbed up into a talus slope and started the first of a lot of boulder hopping- or boulder slopping... as it isn't so much svelte stag leaps from boulder to boulder but some sloppy attempts at balancing and moving forward and down.
We were eventually treated to this view of Half Dome. See all those green trees down there... that's where we were going. From the point where this picture was taken we hiked along to the left for a bit and then descended (not roped yet) down a bit to the left of the center of this photo... don't worry it doesn't look quite so steep once you keep going... not quite.
The descent involved a fair bit of bushwhacking and careful treading down exposed slabs but we eventually got to the bottom (some 1500 vertical feet later) to continue hiking the stream bed till we reached another long drop and the first of three forced rappels (some people do more rappels, but we managed to down climb quite a few drops).
This is D setting up the first rap into a tighter slot (formed by that darker rock layer).
We knew we were right behind another group as we'd heard them celebrating when they'd managed to get down that long, steep descent. We caught up with them in the slot section and discovered a group of five twenty-somethings, several of whom worked as Naturalists in Yosemite. We reached the last rappel a bit ahead of the group of five, and discovered a couple from Colorado (who were spending three days backpacking through the canyon) sitting around a large and quite deep pool- that the last rappel went into. After we got across we sat around- watched the other group rappel down- and took pictures as everyone tried different methods of jumping in- most from a large boulder directly to the left of the picture below. The gentleman from Colorado however- swam back over to where we had just rappelled down, climbed up a bit and dove in from there-
he did manage to rotate fully forward and didn't belly-flop as it looks like he's about to in the picture.
My legs had taken a real beating doing all that rock-hopping and then the thousand plus feet of constant descending. (I mean- we went down This...
The rocks in the center of the picture make up the creek bed... we're going down the stuff in the bottom half of the photo- the top half of the picture is the opposing wall of the canyon... and there's D a bit ahead of me...)
I could tell I was going a bit slower through the bottom canyon- but after the extended rest we took around the pool I thought everything was fine when I stood up to continue the last section of creek walking before we reached the last two miles of flat and wide established Trail, around Mirror lake- which brought us into the Valley.
But it quickly hit me, and hard.
You ask- What hit you???
My own stupidity- pretty much.
I had eaten some of that delicious Almond Pound Cake for breakfast... and about half a granola bar. All day. Now I regularly go through canyons eating a lot less then I should... and drinking a lot less water too... I just don't need as much as D does. However- we had been in the sun, hiking an incredibly strenuous canyon for over seven hours.
I told D I needed to sit down again... he didn't understand. We had a few more miles of canyon- then two- some miles of flat trail- and then Dinner at the Pizza Place!!! Why on earth was I moving so slow??? So I meekly mentioned my food consumption- at which point he sat me down and started going through my pack, tossing over all the food he could find and demanding I eat something- NOW!!!
Well that pretty much lead to my vomiting along the trail. Which made me feel wonderful again. Wonderful meaning I could stand and slowly proceed. D helped as much as he could- took my pack- acted as my crutch during the steep downhill sections as that's when my legs most wanted to give out and drop me in the dirt.
Eventually I felt worse again- vomited again- felt a bit better and we trudged into Yosemite Valley at 1/3 to 1/4 out usual hiking pace. We checked into our tent cabin and D brought me Sprite and Saltines (I may or may not have thrown up twice more before the night was over) and I laid very still in bed for many hours before going to sleep.
The next morning D started up the trail we were suppose to hike together to return to our car- and I bought a one way ticket on a tour bus/hiker's shuttle to drive me out of the Valley, along the Tioga Road- back to Tuolumne Meadows and our car. The shuttle driver was quite informative and it was actually a pretty enjoyable ride as I chatted with a couple Park Employees who were hitching a ride on the start of several days off, and a small backpacking party who had missed their shuttle the day before.
I eventually got off a few stops before the trailhead where our car was parked and hiked the last couple miles to get a bit of exercise (though D had given me the larger and much heavier pack with the ropes and stuff that he wouldn't need on his hike that day- so it was a bit of a push... those two miles... bit pathetic).
Anyway... that was Yosemite.
it's some serious, chunky, delicious bread.
So we sat out at their tables and ate breakfast about 10 minutes after they opened. On the edge of the main street through Bishop.
Then we drove the rest of the way to Tioga Pass and the Tuolumne Meadows side of Yosemite- which we had previously not been able to visit. We did a short hike Saturday afternoon before grabbing a camp site for the night.
Below is Tuolumne River- which we hiked down to and then followed back up for some time on the granite "slickrock" that channeled a long series of cascades.
After watching our neighbors teach their seven year old son how to throw knives (at a tree in the campground) we went to bed early for the Tenaya Canyon Happy Fun Time that was suppose to start bright and early the next morning.
We followed Tenaya Creek which, similar to Tuolumne River, has smooth Granite banks up in the meadow lands. We followed a feint trail through thick groves of trees, some grassy swamp lands, and along the exposed rock when possible. D decided to "Be the Rock" with a particularly round boulder which stranded itself along a stretch of granite bank.
Eventually we were forced to start moving Down. With the first major constriction of rock around the creek we headed to the left, climbed up into a talus slope and started the first of a lot of boulder hopping- or boulder slopping... as it isn't so much svelte stag leaps from boulder to boulder but some sloppy attempts at balancing and moving forward and down.
We were eventually treated to this view of Half Dome. See all those green trees down there... that's where we were going. From the point where this picture was taken we hiked along to the left for a bit and then descended (not roped yet) down a bit to the left of the center of this photo... don't worry it doesn't look quite so steep once you keep going... not quite.
The descent involved a fair bit of bushwhacking and careful treading down exposed slabs but we eventually got to the bottom (some 1500 vertical feet later) to continue hiking the stream bed till we reached another long drop and the first of three forced rappels (some people do more rappels, but we managed to down climb quite a few drops).
This is D setting up the first rap into a tighter slot (formed by that darker rock layer).
We knew we were right behind another group as we'd heard them celebrating when they'd managed to get down that long, steep descent. We caught up with them in the slot section and discovered a group of five twenty-somethings, several of whom worked as Naturalists in Yosemite. We reached the last rappel a bit ahead of the group of five, and discovered a couple from Colorado (who were spending three days backpacking through the canyon) sitting around a large and quite deep pool- that the last rappel went into. After we got across we sat around- watched the other group rappel down- and took pictures as everyone tried different methods of jumping in- most from a large boulder directly to the left of the picture below. The gentleman from Colorado however- swam back over to where we had just rappelled down, climbed up a bit and dove in from there-
he did manage to rotate fully forward and didn't belly-flop as it looks like he's about to in the picture.
My legs had taken a real beating doing all that rock-hopping and then the thousand plus feet of constant descending. (I mean- we went down This...
The rocks in the center of the picture make up the creek bed... we're going down the stuff in the bottom half of the photo- the top half of the picture is the opposing wall of the canyon... and there's D a bit ahead of me...)
I could tell I was going a bit slower through the bottom canyon- but after the extended rest we took around the pool I thought everything was fine when I stood up to continue the last section of creek walking before we reached the last two miles of flat and wide established Trail, around Mirror lake- which brought us into the Valley.
But it quickly hit me, and hard.
You ask- What hit you???
My own stupidity- pretty much.
I had eaten some of that delicious Almond Pound Cake for breakfast... and about half a granola bar. All day. Now I regularly go through canyons eating a lot less then I should... and drinking a lot less water too... I just don't need as much as D does. However- we had been in the sun, hiking an incredibly strenuous canyon for over seven hours.
I told D I needed to sit down again... he didn't understand. We had a few more miles of canyon- then two- some miles of flat trail- and then Dinner at the Pizza Place!!! Why on earth was I moving so slow??? So I meekly mentioned my food consumption- at which point he sat me down and started going through my pack, tossing over all the food he could find and demanding I eat something- NOW!!!
Well that pretty much lead to my vomiting along the trail. Which made me feel wonderful again. Wonderful meaning I could stand and slowly proceed. D helped as much as he could- took my pack- acted as my crutch during the steep downhill sections as that's when my legs most wanted to give out and drop me in the dirt.
Eventually I felt worse again- vomited again- felt a bit better and we trudged into Yosemite Valley at 1/3 to 1/4 out usual hiking pace. We checked into our tent cabin and D brought me Sprite and Saltines (I may or may not have thrown up twice more before the night was over) and I laid very still in bed for many hours before going to sleep.
The next morning D started up the trail we were suppose to hike together to return to our car- and I bought a one way ticket on a tour bus/hiker's shuttle to drive me out of the Valley, along the Tioga Road- back to Tuolumne Meadows and our car. The shuttle driver was quite informative and it was actually a pretty enjoyable ride as I chatted with a couple Park Employees who were hitching a ride on the start of several days off, and a small backpacking party who had missed their shuttle the day before.
I eventually got off a few stops before the trailhead where our car was parked and hiked the last couple miles to get a bit of exercise (though D had given me the larger and much heavier pack with the ropes and stuff that he wouldn't need on his hike that day- so it was a bit of a push... those two miles... bit pathetic).
Anyway... that was Yosemite.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Yosemite
Dave and I visited Yosemite way back in the days we were living in Josey. When we go to Tahoe next week our condo reservation starts on Monday night- which allows us to take the scenic route there over the weekend- via the East side of Yosemite- as in, not The Valley- which we didn't see on our last visit due to the snowed in pass to Tuolumne Meadows.
From the resurected Jelly Bean- a few photos of our last visit, looking down into Yosemite Valley proper.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Jelly Bean
Having Jelly Bean back is like glancing at a moment of my history. She malfunctioned not long after we moved to Prescott Valley.
At the time two different computer folks couldn't fix her and we bought another and set her aside. When the new computer needed attention (read D spilled beer on the keyboard) I found another place- and in the course of taking it back several times (after they failed to replace screws and funny things kept happening) I chatted up the owner about what was wrong with JellyBean and he thought he could fix her.
So that's why I finally decided last month to take her in and see if he was right. He was right- it just took him three weeks...
Now I look at the links I had bookmarked, the files prominently placed on the desktop, etc. And I have a reverse sneak peak at what my priorities were almost exactly one year ago. It's funny- it's not like they show huge treads or anything- just the little things that had me fascinated at the time- the sort of things you've forgotten about and replaced with new interests in a year.
Then there's the small matter of the following picture as the desktop wallpaper...
That's a carbon fiber Tea Cup, folks :) After converting currency- I believe it goes for about $250 for the set- spoon included of course.
As opposed to our other computer- which has the following as the Wallpaper. Which goes for about $490,000- and is our future home in Silverton, Colorado.
Details.
At the time two different computer folks couldn't fix her and we bought another and set her aside. When the new computer needed attention (read D spilled beer on the keyboard) I found another place- and in the course of taking it back several times (after they failed to replace screws and funny things kept happening) I chatted up the owner about what was wrong with JellyBean and he thought he could fix her.
So that's why I finally decided last month to take her in and see if he was right. He was right- it just took him three weeks...
Now I look at the links I had bookmarked, the files prominently placed on the desktop, etc. And I have a reverse sneak peak at what my priorities were almost exactly one year ago. It's funny- it's not like they show huge treads or anything- just the little things that had me fascinated at the time- the sort of things you've forgotten about and replaced with new interests in a year.
Then there's the small matter of the following picture as the desktop wallpaper...
That's a carbon fiber Tea Cup, folks :) After converting currency- I believe it goes for about $250 for the set- spoon included of course.As opposed to our other computer- which has the following as the Wallpaper. Which goes for about $490,000- and is our future home in Silverton, Colorado.
Details.
A bit o' sewing.
I showed D a few things about how to use one of the computerized sewing machines I have for The Business, the other day before I went to work. I came home to find this formless green ripstop blob. (Which Snad immediately crawled into.)
This morning D attempted to ellucidate what on earth he was doing.
Quick action on my behalf rescued the endeavor- and with D's wild gestures as to size and needs and my own adept skills at 3D modeling and flair- we managed the following piece.
Look at me slave away...
This is D examing the template and thinking- "Wow- my wife is way smarter then me." (Don't worry- this is a regular thought for him.)
I also just got Jelly Bean back!!! Umm- that's my old computer. Which appeared unfixable to several computer geeks in town- till I found someone new who thought they could handle it. After three weeks of absolutely NO communication- they called Friday at 4:20pm to say it was done (except they left a screw off and the keyboard isn't fully attached... I'll get it corrected on Monday). This computer place is better then the rest- but every time they've done something for me they're forgotten to replace screws inside or out of the laptops- leading to all sorts of odd behaviors on the computers' behaves. So far it appears to just be this minor screw on this occasion.
However- now Jelly Bean's back- I'm uploading to Flickr all the pictures we had on her from when we were living in Josey. Including these choice ones of Josey after I backed her off a pull-out just outside of Zion National Park while D was off hiking. At the time it was like driving our house over the edge.
This morning D attempted to ellucidate what on earth he was doing.
Quick action on my behalf rescued the endeavor- and with D's wild gestures as to size and needs and my own adept skills at 3D modeling and flair- we managed the following piece.
Look at me slave away...
This is D examing the template and thinking- "Wow- my wife is way smarter then me." (Don't worry- this is a regular thought for him.)
I also just got Jelly Bean back!!! Umm- that's my old computer. Which appeared unfixable to several computer geeks in town- till I found someone new who thought they could handle it. After three weeks of absolutely NO communication- they called Friday at 4:20pm to say it was done (except they left a screw off and the keyboard isn't fully attached... I'll get it corrected on Monday). This computer place is better then the rest- but every time they've done something for me they're forgotten to replace screws inside or out of the laptops- leading to all sorts of odd behaviors on the computers' behaves. So far it appears to just be this minor screw on this occasion.
However- now Jelly Bean's back- I'm uploading to Flickr all the pictures we had on her from when we were living in Josey. Including these choice ones of Josey after I backed her off a pull-out just outside of Zion National Park while D was off hiking. At the time it was like driving our house over the edge.
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