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Friday, December 21, 2012

Woodworking - It's Official And I Still Have Ten Fingers


"I wish I was a slave to an age old trade.  Lord have mercy on my rough and rowdy ways."  - Down in the Valley, The Head and The Heart

If I were to be a slave to an age-old trade, I think I've found it.  

One fate-filled weekend at the end of summer, I headed north to N&Os for a last trip before they turned into snowbirds.  While there we went on a thrifting excursion and came home with a couple finds:  a cutting board and a spice rack. 




Thus begins my venture into woodworking.  My uncle has a fully set up woodshop that I began to refurbish my spice rack with O cut the cutting board into tow and polished them off.  While in there I thought, I really need to know how to do this.  Having another skill set that did't involve sitting at desk really seemed appealing to me.  See, I almost look legit. 



That Monday I returned to work and signed up for a quarter long woodworking class at the local community college.  A ten week course that was going to at least draw me away from my desk job for a few hours every Monday night. 

I must say it was particularly difficult to pull myself away from my desk at 5:00 every Monday for 10 weeks during our busiest time of the year but it was totally worth it when I got there. I was engaged, I was interested, I wasn't thinking about work.  

Woodworking is a fascinating skill, one in which I still want to continue to develop.  There is something very mechanical and precise about it but also very creative.  It also allows one to focus and be present in time and in body because 10 fingers are nice to have and if you're not present  you may find yourself with fewer fingers, among other potential consequences. 

All is that to say  I had a super time learning to create, build, measure and assemble my project.







Ta Da! I present to you a very tall entry way table:



I'm kind of totally proud of it.  It only wobbles a little but will serve that purpose of being the first piece of furniture to greet me and will eventually be the resting place of keys and mails.  Once I learn how to weave a basket for those things...

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Surprise! I'm in PHX

A few weeks ago I was itching to see the sister and nephew, I kicked up my sleuthing skills and made arrangements to surprise my sister for a long weekend.

And I totes surprised her.  And it's been the best.

Surprise!! I'm here!
 
Just out for a stroll...

 
 
 
We went to the park and swang on swings.
 
We got Santa pictures....lol.

 
We did Starbucks Happy Hour after our run. We sat on the patio in the sun. It was the essence of happy.

  
 These dreamboats were also in town so we rendevoused and caught up over breakfast, maybe a couple of times. Bonus!
 
I leave tomorrow night back to Seattle where I hear the rain is still falling...lots. Ugh, dont make me go.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Christmas Spirit

They past 2 weeks I've worked 145 hours which has left little time or energy to get into the holiday spirit.  So after work yesterday, when all was said and done, I promptly came home, took a hot soaking bath, crawled into warm clean sheets and immediately slept for 12 hours.  It was perfect.

Today I made my way home to see the fam and get into the holiday spirit.  We decorated, ate chinese food and napped. (you know, because I was so tired from sleeping 12 hours.) Oh and there was pie. Winning all over the place.

Got to skype with the neph. He called me auntie for the first time! Warm fuzzies!






I feel that Christmas spirit seeping in slowly but surely.  


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Day 1

Day 1 of our annual meeting is done. I'm having a hard time walking (and not to sound like I'm 76 or anything) but I've loaded up on advil so I should be set for the swelling in my knees and ankles to go down.  Totes hot.

I've spent the day with almost 300 of my closest scientist friends talking about antibodies, antigens, replicating vectors, viruses, proteins, DNA and other such fancy things. I smile and nod mostly and laugh when social queues deem appropriate.

Our evening event was the show-stealer (for me).  And I'd like to redact any of previous statements along the lines of "I bet that new Chihuly exhibit is totally overated."  Mark this day in history: I was wrong.

For our evening event we rented out the new Chihuly Garden and Glass space. It was nothing short of amazing. You've gotta see it, especially at night.  Wow, just wow.





No really, go see it. Don't be wrong like me.

Tomorrow night we are hosting a private concert at The Triple Door....like you do.  Stay tuned.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

xo

Aside from working most of the weekend, I found some quiet time to savor some tiny blessings.

Lincoln Park early morning Sunday stroll, I spied:


There isn't a more amazing place to live than here.  There just isn't.  

And because I emotionally ate/devoured all my leftover mashed taters and pumpkin pie, the only thxgiving leftovers I had was turkey.  I because I was so over emotionally eating I made (from scratch) butternut squash soup and an accompanied toasted pear and turkey sandwich.

All dairy and gluten free so my stomach didn't let a gorilla out in my innards.  It tasted amazing and felt even better.  Three cheers for good and tasty decisions!


Welp....back at it tomorrow.

Be good to yourself.  Be kind to another.  Count blessings.

Friday, November 23, 2012

What's the What


This is the time of year where my world implodes on itself. My social life deteriorates. I work 70 hours a week. I run on fumes and fuel on chocolate.  But there is always and end in sight and it's creeping up.  On top of all that, here's what's the what.

Pops turned 60 - I helped him eat his dessert like the good daughter I am. 



Moms turned 61 - I ate her dessert, too.

House-sitting machine:  There was a week where I stayed at 4 houses in 6 days.  At one point when I emptied out my car I found 2 halloween costumes, a cocktail dress, a week's worth of business casual, six coats with a matching scarves, and enough shoes for any terrain or occasion.  I'm now mostly settled in West Seattle until January but swing by my place occasionally to make sure it's still standing. While here I'm taking care of the house.  Doing house-like responsibilities.   Like raking leaves.  It's my  favorite exercise in futility. 




About the only thing keeping me sane right now is my exercise regimen.  I'm training for a half marathon which means I spend copious amounts of time of running and going to boot camp. If it's cold, I go. If it's torrential down pour, I go. If it's sun shining and beautiful, I go.  Moral of the story is: I go.  My lungs and heart are usually on the verge of exploding from my chest and my arms are about to fall off because they hurt so bad but going keeps me sane. 



Eric Church/Justin Moore - On a regular Tuesday night I went to a sold out show at Comcast Arena that was maybe one of the best shows of my life.  You'd probably say the same if you loved country music.  A girlfriend had an extra ticket to the Eric Church show and I jumped at the chance.  I loved it.  There were real cowboys and country folks and then there were the city cowboy country folk.  The former wear cut off shirts, trucker hats, carharts or ratty jeans with a Skol ring.  Then there are city country folk who wear studded designer jeans, plaid button downs, ornamental cowboy hats and polished boots.  But they all drink shitty beer, shamelessly love country music and know every lyric to every song and belt it out like we are all in one big karaoke bar.  It was incredible. 





My Christmas gift to myself is a non-leaking car, re-aligned sunroof, new rear brakes and rotors and an 80k mile car service.  Merry frickin' Christmas.

Oh, and I got a new job!  Like a real grown up job. Same place, same team.  More details later, like when I'm not drowning doing my current job. But it's all real good.

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and when it's shining down on me, I'll be back in full force to wrap up the years with more regular and delightful posts from yours truly.

with thanks.






Mashed taters
pie and fresh whipped cream
family and friends

a job I love
a roof over my head
grace
growning pains
dark days to appreciate light nights
health
a good sweat
you

Holiday cheers has arrived, which I know for some, including me, isn't always cheerful.  In fact, it can be very hard.  If you're one of those people where holiday cheers doesn't always seem quite so, know you're not alone.  Know that it gets better.  Know that you are loved.  Know that as bad as it seems now you can look forward to a great future.  Know that tomorrow is a new day and give thanks for the walk you're walking now will soon be just a time of the past. Know that when all else fails, call ice cream dinner and take a nap. 



Thursday, November 1, 2012

Hot Spicy & Spooky

It's no secret that I find Halloween the most loathsome day of year.

But because I'm turning over all sorts of new leaves, I dove into the Halloween spirit......thrice times. Thrice times more than I expected to.  Jules had a birthday so that helped.  I got a prize.

The first: Mad Scientist.  Halloween is a big deal at work.  Work stops, kids come, big party in the atrium, themed departments go all out for decorations, it's quite the to-do.  This year our team were mad scientists in which I looked more like a sexy librarian with glasses, button down, loosened tie and tussled hair.  Until I put on a full haz mat suit (complete with booties) and became something along the lines of the ghost busters blob.  No photos available but the party was a hoot!

The second: Tabasco sauce - hot spicy and everything nice.

I crafted my own hat to round out my tabasco sauce costume. It was my favorite.








Then there was actual Halloween night which was a game time decision.  I ran 4 miles which kicked my energy into high gear and pulled together a last minute costume and hit the town.  The skeleton was a costume, those dark circles under my ears were for realsies.  





The highlight of the holiday was the card the nephew sent me.  He's becoming quite the artist. 



I'm thinking turning over new leaves, as hard as it is, is just what I need in my life.  Maybe next time just less costumes involved.