here I sit...

Me at camp.  Me have a gas problem... me need to go to bed soon (yes, I know it's 8:22)....

I don't have much to report.  It's been a busy day and I am stuffed.  I went to Dairy Queen for a Peanut Buster Parfait and now I am bloated and icky...

I will post more tomorrow.  Maybe.

The Calm Before the Storm

I leave for camp tomorrow...  I am not really ready, but as usual I will manage.  Tonight I will come home and it will be a flurry of laundry, packing, searching and cleaning.  I had a bit of a problem sleeping this morning so I got up a bit early.  I should have cleaned a bit (there's still time, don't get me wrong)...  but I think I'd rather just sit here and drink coffee...

Yesterday it was confirmed that I will be picking up another cycle class at the downtown club on Tuesdays.  It will be good to add that class in... a little more money in my pocketbook will be nice.

We will see how it goes... maybe people will actually come to the class.

Maybe I should get off my ass and pack or something....

I heart Ann

So.... I know this may seem insignificant to some people but I am really sad that the Today Show gave Ann the boot

Here's the link to her announcement... seriously I have never cried watching a morning show clip before.....

here's a small selection of my Today Show signs...

The Today Show still sucks.

Today Show = Douche Bags!

Wiener Dog Reunited - and it feels so good

Yesterday I had a little part in reuniting a lost wiener dog and it's owner.

When I was walking to work yesterday I saw this poster on the ground...

I don't know why it's sideways but you get the gist...

I belong to a wiener dog meetup group (although I've never participated in an event of theirs) and sent a photo of the lost dog to the leader.  She in turn posted it on faceboook and one of her readers had seen a found dog ad on Craigstlist - she put two and two together and the little guy was reunited with his momma!

How great is that?

It brings a tear to my eye...

What else is going on?  I don't really know...  too much to do, too little time.  I leave for camp on Saturday and I am not really ready..

Sunday - Post Cupcake Frenzy...

Yesterday I spent a great portion of the day baking cupcakes for camp.  Fun times but tiring.

Over the past few years we have the campers decorate cupcakes the night of the dance (the last day of camp)... I usually spend the whole afternoon sequestered away baking like a maniac... although I like this, it can be a bit daunting...  I decided to do it all beforehand this year so I can enjoy the last day of camp.  I can always "pretend" I have to go do something if I need to get away.

In addition to the cupcake baking I did laundry and snuggled with the puppies at my momma's place.  Today I should probably do something about my apartment... it's looking a little bit worn.  Not too bad, but I could do something to get it back into shape.

I don't really have much to say other than that.

What I know today

Here is what I know...

Yesterday was my nine year anniversary of walking into a weight watchers meeting...  yay me.  I'm not always perfect, but I am in a much better space then I was back when I joined... 

I shall crash back to earth this evening when I purchase the S'mores special at Safeway for $5.00 Friday...  I will be judicious in my s'more allotment...

Wednesday night someone walked out of my class in a huff...  I am guessing he had a bad day because I had asked him nicely to remind me to do something after class was over (he had changed some broken handlebars to another bike and I asked him to remind me to change them back when class was over... ).... he said "I can do it now".. then he changed them back and stormed off.... oh well.  I have never had that happen so it was a bit startling...  I am just going to chalk it up to a bad day...

This morning I am going to brave the line at Crumble and Flake to get some treats for the office...  I woke up early so I can get there...

which means, I need to get a move on now!

If they fire Ann Curry I'm going to be pissed...

The Today Show was my favorite news show... not any more if they can Ann... I am very sad.

This is a link to the Project I Heart Ann.


BOO NBC YOU SUCK!!!

This link shows you how much I love her...

Nothing like a good nights sleep

Last night it was all I could do to stay up... I ended up going to bed at 9:15.  It sure felt good to sleep...

I don't know why I was so sleepy.  Maybe it's the weather.

Yesterday someone from the UK posted a comment on blog regarding a post I made back in January.  Basically he said that I should quit whining and it looked to him that my life was pretty good.

I told him to suck it.  no, I didn't....  however, I did say that there were a bunch of other things going on at that time and he didn't have the full picture of my life.

I find it funny how even trolls can stumble upon blogs and make comments without getting the full context of things.  That's why I hate reading comments on stories on news stories... some people have no idea..

Okay, my rant is done.  I don't really care.  Doesn't everyone know that blogs for the most part are written by lonely people who don't have any true friends?  (please note the touch of sarcasm in my fingers here...).

Tonight I am subbing at the gym - other than that I have nothing.

Nothing to complain about.  That's news.

Busy Weekend...

Let me see....
Kicked ass in both the Sculpt Class and Cycle yesterday... (they love me).
I had two Birthday Parties to attend last night.  I only ended up going to one because per usual, I pooped out by 8:30...

Today I taught and then went to my pop's place for a visit.  He's not as good as last week, but alright...  he was a little cranky.  But hey, I'm the queen of cranky so it doesn't bother me too much.

I managed to do some dishes and laundry so that's cool...  if someone were to drop by my place I wouldn't be too embarrassed.

This week I am subbing a few extra classes at the gym.  I'm actually feeling pretty good lately.  My feet are feeling better, my knee works (I still can't bend it that well, but I can manage), I've started running again...

One of my friends from the gym told me that I had been stepping it up lately.  That lit a fire under by keester I think.
When I think back to last year I was injured for most of the year.

Finally, I would like to wish a happy third Birthday to Zoe the wonder dog!

The blog post which recounts a good day almost gone bad

The last two days have gone pretty well.  Not much to complain about.

Work was fairly uneventful, I even got to leave early today...

I went to REI on the way home and invested in some trailrunners (light hiking shoes) for my Long Walk next month.

On the way home I smiled at two boys.. they smiled back.

Things are looking up.

Last night I tried to do laundry but it turns out that I don't have any detergent (I left at my momma's house)... so I bought what I thought was detergent, but alas ... it was only fabric softener...

hopefully it will work to get my clothes a little clean...  too much working out this week has left me without pants.

So.... I started this post a few hours ago and a lot has changed since then...  I am subbing tomorrow morning.. BODY SCULPT!!!  ha ha ha ha... should be interesting.  I will get through it... maybe I'll start a few minutes late...  I did it once before, I can do it again.

There was a bit of a miscommunication about subbing classes in the morning (I'm also covering the cycle class at the last minute)... more $$$$'s are good.

This weekend I have two Birthday parties to go to tomorrow and then I'm going to visit my Daddy on Sunday...  Should be a busy weekend, but not as busy as the last one...  I only have one weekend after this before I head off to camp... I will just have to push through it until I get there.

I think that's all I have to say tonight... I may go to bed early tonight. (9:30)... need to get my beauty sleep if I'm going to sculpt my body!  ha ha ha...

Oh Toenails, I'm Sorry

Last night I went to the gym downtown after work and ran.

I think I'm going to lose another toenail...  now that I can run semi-comfortably again the toenails are getting bruised...  oh well... I can always polish them right?

Yesterday I was looking at some old blog posts....  I think it's evident that I used to be funnier...  there was something about the good old days...  complaining about what part of my body hurt, my fat thighs, my lack of companionship....  not that THAT's funny, but the humor was a bit more with it... now I just sound like a complaining middle-aged woman.

It's Wednesday.  I am teaching tonight and then it's freedom until Sunday!  I managed to get the dishes done last night so hopefully this will spur me on to keep things up in other area...  maybe I should invite people over so it will make me clean!

Who am I kidding, the last time I invited people over only 2 out of 18 came... 

I am socially challenged when it comes to get togethers....

I will leave you this morning with photos I have taken recently

This is the old Washington Mutual Building on 2nd - near Pike I think...

My old office building Two Union Square on the left... 
(it figures in some of my artwork, but you'll have to do the sleuthing to figure out where).

Last week I went into the restroom in Nordstrom... I found two empty Trophy Cupcake boxes in the stall.... I think someone may (or may not) have an eating disorder

These are storm clouds I saw last Friday walking home from work

Crab Shorts!  Enough said about that.

 Downtown Seattle Public Library at 5:30 am Monday morning...

Taken last night near the Federal Building Downtown - after working on losing my toenails...

Artwork in my apartment - an original by Tim Roda... that's Ryan Horvath staring at you there...

That is all....

Long Days Journey into a new nickname...

Yesterday I subbed last minute at the club downtown AT 6AM!  The hardest part about getting up at 4:30 is trying to stay up in the evening later...  I had to teach last night as well so it made for a very long day.

Some of the high points though are as follows.

I found 10 dollars on the ground as I was walking down Madison... it was between Bank of America and IHOP so I'm assuming it was a drunk person dropping their change in the dark...

I went over 30,000 steps on my pedometer.

I came up with a new nickname... accidentally.  I was sending the other Jen Towner a text message saying that I was pooped and the iphone rearranged the words to Pooper D.  I think that's a good alter ego nickname to my other one, Sparklepants.

On Sunday I had a short visit with my Dad.  He was in bed (luckily he was dressed)... he was napping.  We talked for about 20 minutes.  I just sat there and hold his hand.  My hands are usually cold and he will hold them the warm them up.  He though he was being impolite by not getting up, but I said I didn't mind.  He seemed to be with it, although sleepy.  It was a good visit.

On Sunday afternoon I went to a book reading at Elliott Bay Books.  Jac Jemc is a friend of mine from school.  She was reading from her new novel My Only Wife  - I will wait to discuss it after I finish it.  I'm almost halfway through.  For me that is an accomplishment.  I've never been much of a reader because it takes me so long.  Here is the description from the book:

Ten years ago the narrator unlocked the door of a wrecked apartment, empty of any trace of his wife. As stunning as her disappearance is his response. He freezes on the facts of her, haunting his recollections. This is the story of a man unable to free himself enough from the idea of a woman to try to find her.

I hope to finish it today.

I don't have much on the radar today.  I have amassed a load of dishes that need to be washed.. I'm almost out of coffee cups.  That would be a tragedy if I ran out of them.

Cycling, Book Readings, Tony's...

Today is a full slate...
teaching, book reading and watching the Tony's...

Yesterday was full as well...  I subbed the cycle class and then did some laundry at the parental unit's house...  then it was off to get the legs waxed and then a camp meeting...  I got home before 7pm but I was wiped out.  I ended up going to bed before 9:30.

I've been wondering if I were to manage to sleep in a little bit longer in the morning, would I be able to stay up later at night therefore improving my social life?....   I have an active social life... it just all happens before 11am on weekends usually...

This afternoon an acquaintance of mine from Grad School is giving a reading of her new book at Elliott Bay Books.  I am going to buy the book and have her sign it...  and then I am going to read it!  Yes, I am going to read another book.  A friend of mine is coming along so we may go out afterwards...  look at me being social!

I plan on swinging by my Dad's place after class...  he's doing about the same.  It's hard to go sometimes, but I do it anyway...  some day's he's good, some days not so much... but he's plugging along...  I hope he's having a good day today...  if not, that will be alright....  I usually feel better after seeing him though.  Watching his decline is hard, but I can honestly say I have no regrets about any of our interactions during my lifetime, there's really nothing that has been left unsaid so I am content.  Sad, but content.  So even if it get's to the point where he doesn't know who I am it will be okay...  he's not there yet though...  I just have to keep saying the things I need to say.

Contemplative - that's how I'm feeling...  I think things are looking up...  or at least straight ahead...

People I know and the things that they do...

A former camper of mine just put out an album of songs.... it's in the Rap genre.... I know not all of my followers might be into rap but I think he's done a great job.

His name is K-rad and this is his album...  http://k-rad.bandcamp.com/  you can download it and pay what you want (he's going to be a Sophomore at Gonzaga next fall so I think we can all pay something for it...)

Last year at the talent show at camp, your truly (J-to)  and K-rad performed some fresh raps.

Word.

you should also like his Facebook page here  http://www.facebook.com/K.RadHipHop

The post which recounts two hours in the dentist's chair...

I would tell you about my dentist visit in person, but my jaw hurts from keeping it open for two hours.

I had two fillings replaced by a replacement dentist... (my other dentist broke his femur)... she was very nice, but very slow...  my jaw has had issues in the past, but I thought I was going to die.  It's hard to keep it open for so long.  When she was done, she told me about all the things that could happen to my teeth (crown, root canal)... I've had both of those, but It's no big deal...  I am thinking my regular Dentist usually thinks those things but he doesn't actually say them out loud.

The only good thing about the visit is that I got more toothpaste samples.

This week has been really busy - Tonight is the first night I don't have to teach this week.  I have two days off from the gym and then it's a string of another three classes. 

Overall things are medium. We have a camp planning meeting on Saturday so it will be nice to see everyone.

Another thing I have on the horizon is the Long Walk...  It's a four day walk/art event put on by Susan Robb.  I wanted to do it last year, but my injury-laden season left me on disabled list and the thought of walking up to 18 miles a day is unthinkable (also I had my Vermont Studio Residency coming up and couldn't afford to take time off)...  I have the signup date marked in my in calendar and I hope to be one of the lucky ones to get a spot...

In honor of my feet, here's my feet......

Today I will do this...

Today I will make my way off the sofa.

Today I will go to work.

Today I will not eat cake.

Today I will be nice.

Today I will be nice.

Today I will be nice.

Today I will be nice.

if I say it enough maybe it will happen...

What I know today.

What do I know?

I know that my brother in law is running for Superior Court Judge in Thurston County.

here is a link to the facebook page for his campaign.

http://www.facebook.com/CitizensForVictorMinjaresForJudge

If you are one of my many followers (the two of you) you should check out his page and "like" the campaign.

I don't know much about the other candidates, but I do know my brother in law.  He's a smart guy and I would trust him to act fairly and impartially if I were to ever get in trouble...  But then again I WOULD NEVER GET IN TROUBLE.  I am an angel.

If any of you know anyone in Thurston County check it out. 

I am trying to get myself into gear for the coming week.  I have these exciting events on the horizon...

DENTIST APPOINTMENT!
CYCLE SUBBING AT THE DOWNTOWN CLUB!

that's it....

I'm sorry I can't manage anything more exciting there for you.....

oh... one last note.  I got my hair done on Saturday and it looks really good.... I just thought you should know.

Hello there.

Surprisingly (or not) I am in a good mood today even though I gained a pound over the past two weeks.  I have decided to turn over a new leaf... okay, it's the same old leaf but the other side.

After ww I went to the gym and ran for over an hour on the treadmill... then I came home and made a good for me breakfast.  I am feeling fairly virtuous...  this afternoon I am getting my haircut...and I'll get my skunk stripe taken care of.

Oh, I forgot - I ALSO put together a healthy dinner from the Weight Watchers handout I got this morning.  Crap.  What has gotten into me?  I also did dishes!

I guess I better go to bed soon because I don't want to jinx anything.

That is all I know as of this very second!

Frrrrrrr- day

Friday, I love you.

As usual,  the four day work week has kicked my backside.

I am sitting here on the sofa enjoying a cup pot of coffee.  I love coffee.

The other Jen Towner has started challenging me to do the plank for specific lengths of time...  we did a five minute stretch on Monday... yesterday she challenged me to do it for six minutes...  I haven't tried it yet... maybe today.  It's about all I can do to hold a plank for five.  I get all shaky and sweaty...

This is what a plank looks like...

I have a rug burn on my forearm so I probably won't do it again for a few days...

but the gauntlet has been thrown down...  I must accept the challenge.

This weekend it's back to the usual... I have a hair appointment to get rid of my skunk stripe and I will teach and visit my pop....  I think that's all on the agenda this weekend.  Maybe I'll find some jobs to apply for.....  there's also a Fellowship deadline coming up for the Vermont Studio Center... maybe I will apply again.  I would love to go back, but I can't afford to pay for it.  I guess it's worth a $25.00 application fee gamble..

I think for now I will just sit here and finish my coffee...