Back

I made it back safely last night around 8:30.

I will go over things more in detail later, but need more time to process.

I will say that the Long Walk was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in a long time.  I walked over 73 miles total, did a lot of talking and thinking and dancing...  I met a lot of great people from different areas. 

Here are a few abstract photos for you...

I think I might be ready...

Tomorrow I head off on the Long Walk.  I am only slightly concerned about my feet/legs/knees...

It was one year ago today that they cleaned up my meniscus... it feels pretty good for the most part.

Have I mentioned that I am going to give up sugar starting the first of August?  I don't know if I'm going to go cold turkey, but I'm going to try...  I think it might be just what I need to get my ass in gear.

Okay, back to the long walk....  I am taking my camera, my cell phone solar charger, food, a roller for my aching calves, and my digital voice recorder...  hopefully I won't forget anything too important... I just need to make sure I have enough underwear and socks...  and sunscreen.  It's supposed to be 80 degrees both today and tomorrow.  I don't want to get all toasted and be uncomfortable for the rest of it...

I lost one of my toenails on Sunday night... it's from all that running...  I'm going to lose another one soon I think... so much for having cute feet...

I won't be back until next week (blog wise)...  I am not taking my laptop with me (yes  - crazy I know...).  I can do it!

I saw this on Huffington Post this morning....

short week!

I'm pretty excited about the Long Walk this weekend.  I'm hoping my feet don't kill me too much.  My plantar fasciitis hasn't been bugging me too much lately.  I still feel the pain, but it's manageable...  considering I usually walk at least 7 or 8 miles each day without too much discomfort I should be able to do 15 no problem.  Only time shall tell.

This weekend turned out to be alright... I had a good visit with my Dad yesterday.  He was sleepy (that's the norm)... but he didn't seem too discombobulated... and he complimented me on my earrings. 

I'm hoping the work week is not too challenging...  I only have to work three days so hopefully it won't kick my backside too much.

I'm started putting some new things in motion...  I can't divulge too much just yet, but let's just say I'm thinking about what would make me happy and I'm doing something about it...  (no, it's not an arranged marriage...).

I managed to vacuum my living room yesterday.  It's still a pit, but it's a cleaner pit than it has been...

I guess there's always time to do things when I get home from the gym tonight!  I can always clean while I watch Bachelor Pad!

What do I know.

I decided to take a core class yesterday and now I am regretting it... ouch.

I am happy to report that I did get around to doing some cleaning in my apartment yesterday...  I rearranged my bedroom all feng shui like...   hopefully this will help with my wisdom and education areas... my bedroom is not set up to facilitate a good relationship flow, but somehow that doesn't surprise me too much.  Oh well, I'll take the education areas...

Crap - where did the morning go?  I have to get ready to go to the gym. 

Today I am going to get things put together for my big ass long walk next weekend.  I am picking up a tent I'm borrowing and I will probably clean up the apartment a bit more...  If I ever want to invite people over I should get rid of some stuff....

Okay, that's it.

xoxoxo  I love you all.

Rainy Days and Fridays (always get me down?)

Rainy rainy rainy!

This morning I shall trudge my way to work in the rain...  I'm not really looking forward to it.  I have to stop and pick up bagels too...

I have finally made it to the end of the week.  I am looking forward to not having to teach tonight.  The classes downtown are going alright... last night I had six people as opposed to one the previous week.  That's good.

This weekend I have a few things going on.  I am subbing class tomorrow, and I have to do laundry and get things put together for the Long Walk.   I am thinking of making a special t-shirt for the occasion....  I also REALLY need to clean up the apartment.  I have the dishes done but the rest of the place needs a clean sweep.

Overall I'd give my being a 7.

could be worse.

What I know now/today

I have made it to mid-week. 

The start of this week has been mediocre.  Not too bad, not too great.

The best news I've had so far this week is that I got a longer cord for the ipod connector at the downtown club so I can use any playlist I want and I can control the music without having to hop off the bike.

Last night I had nine people in class which was nice change from last Thursday when I had one person.

I found out yesterday that I'm not having people staying at my place this weekend so that's a bit of a relief...

I need to figure out something new to do with my life.  I need to get out more...  maybe the Long Walk next weekend will help spur something new in me.

what now?

Monday has graced us again... I am feeling the effects of eating half a can of frosting last night before I went to bed...

I feel kind of icky.

I didn't get around to cleaning much yesterday.

I did get to visit Dad, but he was napping for the most part.  He woke up for a little while, but kept nodding off... that's alright.  Just being there is important.  I'm not going to force him to interact with me if he needs to nap. 

I feel gross...  maybe I need to purge all bad things from my apartment.

Maybe I need a new life.

Derby and Drama...

Okay, the title of this post is a bit misleading... I did go to the roller derby last night and it was fun.  I think I may go back again in the future... unfortunately this was the last bout of the season...  it seems like it would be a fun thing to do in the winter to get out...  I can even walk down to the Seattle Center to do it...

The only drama I have in my life right now is getting my apartment clean in the near future... I think I am going to be having company next weekend.  I wonder if I will ever have a truly clean apartment...  Maybe if I had someone to clean for other than myself.  Maybe If I had a maid.  Maybe if I had a bucket to go with my mop...  maybe if I didn't have all these excuses...

Switching gears to me (okay, the above paragraphs were  all about me too).... this morning in class I had a woman in it who is in a wheelchair.  She was able to get up on the bike and able to vary her resistance to get a good workout.... it was nice to see.

This afternoon I am going to go visit Dad.  It's been a few weeks since I've been there.  I was going to go last week, but my cold prohibited me from going.....   I like going to visit but I get very apprehensive.  You never know what you're going to get.  Is he going to be cranky, is he going to be sleeping??  Is he going to be making sense?  I always feel better when I get there but it's hard sometimes. 

The other day I had a voicemail from my sister and my first thought was that something had happened to my Dad...  it didn't have anything to do with that, but still it made me a bit nervous.

Sometimes I think it might be easier if I had someone else to go visit him with me...  it sucks to be alone sometimes.

This week I am back to my crazy teaching schedule (I need more pants) and getting prepared for my Long Walk.  (oh, and the cleaning...).

Busy Day!

I have a bunch to do today...

I'm finally getting back to ww (let's see what the damage is)..
Haircut
laundry
ROLLER DERBY!

I think I may attempt to clean the apartment as well... too much to do...


Last night I stopped by REI and picked up a smallish backpack for my long walk..  I think I may get everything together in time...  I sure hope so.  There were a bunch of people there picking up their packets for the STP .... maybe someday if I get a bike I'll do that.  It would be nice to have a bike and actually ride it.

I guess I should go...  I hope I can remember where I parked my car...  (oh yeah, I remember now...).

I'm still here

I am having a bit of a challenge getting over this cold... I'm feeling a bit better, but it's still not 100 percent.

I managed to make it through my new teaching schedule and I have found that I have a problem...

not enough pants...

It looks like I will have to up the amount of laundry I do on a regular basis... I can't teach without pants can I?  I think I may have misplaced a pair of pants somewhere... hmmm... maybe when I feel better I can do a clothing check.

Yesterday I made a long list of things I have to do in order to get my immediate living area into a more pleasing space... once again my dishes have stacked up a bit (luckily, it's mostly coffee cups)...  I also need to organize and put away art making things....  I was thinking I should have a yard sale.  Too bad I don't have a yard.


Tomorrow night I will be going to the roller derby.  I know ROLLER DERBY!  My friend Jenna asked me if I want to go, and since I've decided that I need to get out more often I said yes.  AND it doesn't start too late so I can get home at a reasonable time and sleep...

Okay, that's what I know this morning...  Oh, we're having doughnuts at work this morning and I think there may be a salted caramel old fashioned one out there with my name on it!

woot woot.

Last night

Two things last night.

one - I taught at the downtown club.  It went alright, but there's no microphone and I'm losing my voice.  I was a bit croaky...  and my bike kept having issues...  I'll get used to it...

two - I had my meeting for the Long Walk.  I have a lot to gather for my adventure.  I'm pretty excited and am hopeful that my feet won't bug me too much on the trek.  I think I should be okay...  I think I'm going to have to stop by REI during lunch in the near future and get supplies.  FUN FUN FUN!

I'm over the hump when it comes to teaching.. only two more classes then I get a few days off.  Hopefully I don't get too worn down...  I will say though that it's more money in my wallet so I won't complain now.

My cold continues it's progression to my chest.... it doesn't feel as tight as yesterday and my headache is better...

okay, my blog post has grown stale...  I used to be funny.

What I've missed...

It was kind of refreshing not being around technology for a week.

I did miss the whole Katie Holmes/Tom Cruise drama so I'm kind of bummed... they have a settlement already?  I guess that's what happens when you have a lot of money and have people who don't want a long drawn out process to mar any organization one superstar may be involved in.

My cold has made it's progression from a sore throat to a tightness in my chest.  It's moving pretty fast so I hope it will be gone by the weekend...  I hit the snooze button a couple of times this morning and considered going to work late, but I think I shall just tough it out.

What else.... Philip Seymour Hoffman has been cast in Catching Fire - the next movie in the Hunger Games trilogy... that's good news.

Tonight I start teaching at the downtown club... hopefully people will come...   hopefully I don't lose my voice by trying to yell too loud.

THEN I have a meeting about the Long Walk... so that means I will be sitting in a meeting while being a hot and sweaty - yuck.  Oh well... that's life I guess.

this photo is of a bunch of counselors who were "supervising" work at the new Peace Garden at camp...  oh the memories...

I think I shall now recess to my cup of coffee and try to clear my throat (chest) a little bit...

Only a few compliants...

Overall I had a good week at camp, but I have come down with a cold... or at least a sore throat...  I didn't have any cold medicine in the apartment so I will have to venture out sometime today...

I slept a good nine hours last night.  I know it feels wrong to go to bed at 9pm on Saturday night but I was tired!

Today shall be filled with cleaning, laundry, and trying to get a handle on the cold.... this week I start teaching at the downtown club... hopefully the cold won't hinder me too much.  Got to get rid of it sooner rather than later.

My head hurts too much to be more scintillating....  there's always tomorrow!

I bet you thought I was dead.

nope - here I am....

it's been a long week at camp and I can be sure of the following things:

You should not do the worm on a concrete basketball court. (that is unless you want abrasions and bruises on your knees).

A diet high in white flour and other junk produces a lot of gas.

Youth these days are a heck of a lot more talented than we were back in the day... or maybe we were, but there wasn't the pressure like today to do more activities and have more accomplishment...

I also know it's not easy to be coherent after only three hours of sleep...

Here are some photos to occupy your time...

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...

No Words

Yesterday sucked the wind out of everyone I know.

I personally didn't know anyone who was directly affected by the violence.

It's just sad.

hmmmm.....

Today I am subbing at the downtown club.  It should be interesting trying to get there in time..  and finding a playlist that I don't have to hop off the bike every five minutes to adjust...

I think I may be over my s'more addiction...  I am out of graham crackers and chocolate... just have some marshmallows left...  maybe I'll leave them on top of the yard waste container so someone can take them...

on top of that all?  Cramps.  enough said.

Slowly expanding

I am going to keep expanding until my pants burst...

I am having portion control issues...  it's not going to be pretty if it continues on like this.



This is what song popped into my head when I started thinking about becoming a whale...

It doesn't really fit, but it's a good song.

I don't have much to report.  I spent a big chunk of time cleaning my apartment last night and it still looks like a pit.

I need to do something to snap me out of this marsupial inspired lethargy....

what the heck does that mean?  I don't know.....

I guess I should just get a move on.

Home again home again

I finally made it home last night around 9pm...  it's been a long, full weekend.

Here are a few photos... 

Breakfast on Saturday morning

Glitter disaster in the craft closet!

The big field on a nice day!

Outdoor Chapel!

A closeup of my tree!

S'MORES!

Birthday Cake (Cake Jake) for my Brother-In-Law's Birthday...

I crashed the Birthday Barbecue!

Overall a pretty good weekend..... I need to clean up, do some shopping and get laundry done...  I guess it's not going to get done by itself...

better run...

Live from Olympia!

Work camp got done early so I decided to pay a visit to the Olympia contingent of my family.  Right now I'm hanging out at Starbuck's under the pretense of working on job application stuff...  I might work on sample class assignments. Seems like a good idea.

Not much to report from work camp.  I managed to clean out the craft room and get things organized.  I ate too much food and had a good time preparing s'mores around the campfire last night.

Currently I'm eavesdropping on a conversation the barista's are having about the movie Say Anything when John Cusack is holding the boom box above his head...  good movie.  It's one of my favorites.

At some point I will trudge up to my sister's place.  It's my brother in law's birthday so I am crashing the birthday party... but that's how I roll.

Part of me would just really like to take off on the open road and never come back...  I almost pulled off the highway and went into a casino, but the idea of subjecting myself to a bunch of cigarette smoke was unappealing. 

Maybe I'll head back home tonight...  maybe I'll find some other friend to go visit for the evening...  I have one more clean shirt and a pair of underpants so I'm set!

Three Days to Myself!

I don't remember the last time I had a three day weekend without any constraints on my time.  I'm looking forward to it.

As is usual with three day weekends, the work week preceding it has been a bear.  I suppose it's good, but I am tired.

Tonight I am hoping to get an early dismissal so I can come home and pack before I head over for work camp.  I have been told that one of my projects this weekend will be organizing the craft room (I knew it was inevitable)... maybe they will let me do some painting too.  I don't really mind.

What else???  I had some teeny tiny ants in my bathroom but they are gone now thanks to the exterminator!  death to the teeny tiny buggers.

Last night I watched the premiere of So You Think You Can Dance... I really do love that show.  There are so many people with talent - It just makes me want to shake my groove thing.... 

I think that's it this morning. 

Have a great weekend.

I'm Back.

I'm back....  

What do I know?  I went to the dentist yesterday and have to have two fillings replaced which sucks for the pocketbook, but I did get a lot of toothpaste samples so that's cool.

I have teeny tiny ants in my bathroom...  the exterminator is coming today.

I found ten dollars on the floor of Bartell Drugs yesterday.

I had a full class at the gym.

My austerity plan has resulted in  a downward trend in the scale because I'm not eating crap... that's cool.

I think tonight I will have to do some laundry before I head off tomorrow night.

I'm looking forward to not having any plans this weekend. Well, any plans besides going to work camp.

I will do my best to take photos at camp and post them here... 

Pretty good weekend, but next weekend will be better.

Overall I give the weekend a 7.  The only major icky thing was the coffee grinder breaking.  I realized once I got to the gym that I had a few of the Starbucks Via packets which I could have used... but I was so discombobulated by lack of caffeine that I didn't realize it.

Oh well....  I took the beans I had left over to my mom's house and used her coffee grinder so I'll be set for the next few days.

This weekend I got some cleaning done around my place, exercised, updated the website a bit (it's still not perfect, but I found a few images that I could put up there), and I watched the pilot episode of Twin Peaks on Netflix... good show.

Oh, I also managed to get some laundry done.

Next weekend there are no classes at the gym so I get a true weekend to myself.  I am going to be heading off to work camp.  It will be nice to get away and do some work on the site for the upcoming camping season.  I need me some Pilgrim Firs time....

I am guessing that because it is going to be a three day weekend that this week will go on forever.  I just have to mentally prepare for it.

Overall things seem to be picking up.  I am not feeling quite so down about things.  That's good.

No Coffee, No Fun

My coffee grinder is broken.

I have no coffee.

I am sad.

I suppose I could just suck on the beans, or lick the residue off the grinder but it wouldn't be the same.

posting every day didn't quite work out as planned...

This is proof that if you get out of a habit it's hard to get it back.  I had intended to keep posting daily but it didn't stick.  Oh well, I'm back now.

Let me see what I can update you all on.... this is what my horoscope said today...

Today is a 9 -- You're even more powerful (and good-looking). Accept invitations to visit. Resist your own marketing pitch, if only for a little humility.

I always knew I was powerful and good-looking...  I am feeling fairly good...

Last night I spent the evening working on a grant proposal for some equipment for my t-shirt project.  I was almost done when I was unable to save a stupid adobe pdf file so that I could upload it...  argh..  I need that benefactor I've been looking for to buy me a copy of Adobe Creative Suite.  Oh well, I will complete the application today - which is two days before the deadline.  Now that's a miracle.

This weekend should be uneventful, visiting the parental unit, cleaning things, trying to find my cables for my video camera which my friend Tia Kramer is going to use during her artist residency in New York next month.

If that's all I really need to do it sounds good to me.  

I'm sure more things will come up but this weekend less is more. 


Here are some nice flowers growing in my neighborhood...

Another Post?

Yeah, I think I might get back to everyday posting - but don't count on it, because I might change my mind.

The weather yesterday did something to put me in a good mood...  it's hard to be bright and cheery when it's all dreary outside. Hopefully it will stick around.

What do I have going on??  I think tonight I shall go to a show at the Annex Theater - one of my former campers got a grant to create and develop a dance piece.  The last chance to see it is this week so I am going to go.  I know it means that I will be up past my bedtime but that's okay.

Once again the dishes in my apartment have piled up....  I'm looking sort of like a bachelor...  I'm okay with it though.

Did I mention that I told somebody I'd run a marathon with them?  What am I thinking??  I'm thinking I might be crazy...  and I'm thinking that I don't really love having nice looking toenails because they're bound to all fall off...   it will be good for me though.  My feet are feeling better overall...  I almost have a spring in my step.

That's all I'm going to share this morning.... but it turns out to be quite a bit.

Hotter than a dog on fire

It's going to be a scorcher today!  Okay, maybe 80 degrees isn't a scorcher... but it's still going to be warm.  I shall bare my legs once again.

Yesterday was fairly enjoyable.  Class was almost full, my Dad was only a little nutty (nutty in a good way), and the Momma's day barbeque was fairly uneventful.  The high point was my nephew Leo licking the "Fairy Crossing" sign in the back yard and getting in trouble... why he would want to lick a sign that has a picture of Tinker Bell that's been out in the back yard for a few years is beyond me, but hey - he's only 5.

Maybe I'll get a move on  a few minutes early this morning...  I'm going to bare my legs again today - hopefully I won't blind anyone.

Your Momma!

Happy Mother's Day y'all...

Today I shall celebrate with a bbq at my mommas house...

I don't have too much to tell you about - the weather is nice, I got my armpits waxed so I can bare them to the world, Mr. Clunky moved out so I can sleep through the night....  things are looking up.

Last night I met some friends for drinks down on Broadway.... it was a nice change for me to get out.  I'm so used to getting up early and having to pack it in by 9pm on Saturday nights I'm not quite used to it...

I think I shall stop by and see my Dad on the way to the Barbeque this afternoon...  It's been a few weeks since I've seen him...  last time I went he was asleep....  hopefully he will be up this time...

But this day is all about my momma!

Clunky has left the building....

I knew it was coming, but I realized after three nights of uninterrupted sleep that Mr. Clunky has moved out.

I'm not quite sure what to do... I have my television turned up just a little louder than usual and I think I might clomp around if I wake up in the middle of the night.

I know I should just appreciate it while I can, because you never know when it might all end and Ms. Talk Loud on the Phone moves in...

I am celebrating with bratwurst.